On January 14, during a government meeting, the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Olzhas Bektenov, instructed to intensify efforts in promoting sports infrastructure facilities. According to him, Kazakhstan has a favorable climate and the necessary infrastructure for the development of winter sports. Therefore, as Bektenov believes, it is essential to improve the accessibility of sports infrastructure for the citizens of Kazakhstan.
“All sports facilities must remain accessible to the general public. This will increase the number of people engaged in sports and positively impact the development of businesses in the service sector surrounding these facilities. Local authorities and businesses need to work more actively in this direction. Only in this way can we expect mass participation, which will provide a multiplicative effect for businesses and local communities around such sports and tourist facilities,” emphasized Olzhas Bektenov.
Bektenov also tasked the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, in collaboration with local authorities, to enhance efforts in attracting investors and creating favorable conditions for the construction of sports infrastructure, including ski slopes in Almaty, Almaty region, East Kazakhstan, and other areas. According to him, the capacity of one of the most popular winter resorts, Shymbulak, currently exceeds its designed capacity per day. In 2024, the number of visitors reached 1.5 million people.
The head of the government also highlighted the need for intensified work on creating effective training programs oriented towards Olympic standards. Currently, there is a noticeable lack of targeted training for athletes, a shortage of coaching staff, and low competition among regions in various sports.
“The choice of sports disciplines should be based on scientific principles and reflect our national specifics. Addressing this issue should streamline the activities of sports federations and their operations at international, national, and local levels. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports, together with local executive bodies, needs to take measures to develop youth sports, establish and support sports schools and sections. Efforts should be intensified to advance sports medicine. We all must work towards enhancing the competitiveness of Kazakhstani sports,” stressed Olzhas Bektenov.