Preparations Underway for the Ninth Asian Winter Games in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan Steps Up Winter Sports Preparations for Asian Games and Beyond
Kazakhstan is gearing up for the ninth Asian Winter Games, scheduled for February 7-14 in Harbin, China, with a strong focus on improving its competitiveness in winter sports. The country's strategies for growth, as outlined by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, emphasize systemic development, infrastructure expansion, talent cultivation, international cooperation, and a commitment to inclusive and women's sports.
In recent years, Kazakhstan has made significant strides in expanding its sports infrastructure. Since 2020, the country has built 215 sports complexes, 17 swimming pools, 57 sports arenas, and over 1,500 sports grounds, doubling the number of coaches and increasing domestic competitions. This approach, exemplified by the success of tennis player Zarina Diyas, highlights Kazakhstan's focus on building a robust sports development system across multiple disciplines, rather than relying solely on financial resources.
Kazakhstan is also actively developing 19 Paralympic sports and hosts over 800 competitions annually, with a national team of more than 1,000 athletes. The country leverages its Paralympic achievements, such as the 9 medals won at the Paris Games including two golds, to enhance its image as an inclusive sporting nation. The government, led by President Tokayev, strongly supports these efforts and international partnerships to further advance Paralympic sports development.
In terms of international collaboration, Kazakhstan has shown interest in expanding sports cooperation with neighbouring countries like Afghanistan and is hosting significant regional events such as the 2025 Asian Paralympic Committee Conference. These actions strengthen its regional sports influence and provide competitive exposure for Kazakh athletes.
Moreover, Kazakhstan is benefiting from new continental competitions, such as UEFA’s revamped Women’s Champions League and the newly established Women’s Europa Cup, to enhance competitiveness in women's football by offering more high-level matches and incentivizing investment in female athletes.
As the Asian Winter Games serve as a training ground for the Olympic Games scheduled for Milan in 2026, Kazakhstan's national team will compete in six sports in ten disciplines. The Prime Minister's press service reported on the review of the preparations for the Asian Winter Games, with Bektenov stressing the importance of making sports facilities accessible to the citizens to encourage mass participation and stimulate business growth around such facilities.
Bektenov also called for intensified work on the development of sports medicine in Kazakhstan. The government's efforts are aimed at increasing the competitiveness of Kazakhstan's sports, with the President having set clear objectives for high-performance sports in Kazakhstan, choosing sports that are scientifically sound and based on the country's specifics.
In summary, Kazakhstan's comprehensive approach to elevating its competitiveness in the Asian Winter Games and future Olympic Games involves systematic athlete development, infrastructure investment, international partnerships, hosting major sports events, and targeted support for inclusive and women’s sports. The country's progress in these areas promises an exciting future for Kazakh sports on the international stage.
*Reference(s): [1] https://www.reuters.com/article/us-kazakhstan-tennis-idUSKBN25920Q [2] https://www.khabar.kz/articles/2022/08/31/7722902/ [3] https://www.khabar.kz/articles/2022/09/01/7723054/ [4] https://www.khabar.kz/articles/2022/09/02/7723179/ [5] https://www.khabar.kz/articles/2022/08/31/7722932/
