Kazakhstan is a young country, but is rapidly developing on many fronts and sports is one of those areas. Sporting activity is thriving in the country, thanks to the interest and actions of some key people, including Kairat Zakiryanov, President of the National Sports Student Union of Kazakhstan, President of the Olympic Academy of the Republic of Kazakhstan and FISU Executive Committee member.
Telling FISU Volunteer Leaders Academy participant Zhangul Nurmukhambetova about the evolution of the federation, Kairat Zakiryanov said he founded the National University Sport Federation (NUSF) in 1992, around the same time as the independence of Kazakhstan.
In 2001, the National Sports Student Union of Kazakhstan was transformed into the National University Sports Union, which was then admitted into the International University Sports Federation (FISU) membership the same year. The Union organises the preparation and participation of students in national competitions, and also sets up student teams to participate in the World University Games as well as World University Championships.
Kairat Zakiryanov“Today, the total coverage of our NUSF is 100 universities and more than fifty thousand students, which is quite a large number,” said Kairat Zakiryanov. “We try to interact with all students, so that information reaches every student through universities, social networks, as well as through the Ministry of Education and Science.”
“One of the best events of 2019 was the excellent performance of the Kazakhstan team at the winter edition of the World University Games, which were held in the city of Krasnoyarsk, Russia,” he continued. “The athletes performed well and represented our country. This was a good experience for everyone and a good indicator for the future.”
The President of NUSF also noted that they great attention to encouraging the winners and medallists of the international events, as well as their coaches.
For example, upon the initiative of Zakiryanov himself, the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan approved the following cash prizes for medal-winning performances in Krasnoyarsk: $15,000 for a gold medal, $10,000 for silver and $5,000 for a bronze medal.
“Our long term and short term goals include plans create national sports leagues for each sport, as well as to involve all the universities of Kazakhstan in the University Sport Movement,” Zakiryanov said.
“In the summer of 2020, we had planned to hold a major event, the World University Muay Thai Championship, and about 300 athletes from 30 countries were expected.”
“However, due to the current circumstances in the world, we had to cancel it. We hope that soon the situation in the world will improve, and that we will all return to the implementation of our plans and planned events will be held at a high level.”
“I am very happy that sport is developing in our country and that we are making a great contribution to the development of student and Olympic sports,” he said, finally. “We hope that more than once we will hear news about the victories and triumphs of our athletes and Kazakhstan will still assert itself on the world sports stage.”