Torch relay and Asian Games to give impetus to development of sport - S Kazakhstan
SHYMKENT. January 14. KAZINFORM /Tatyana Pylayeva/ The torch relay of the 7th Asian Games has been carried in Shymkent today.
60 residents of Shymkent carried the torch through Shymkent city. "They are 60 best South Kazakhstan residents: athletes, trainers, foremost workers, intelligentsia who make significant contribution to development of sport as well as economy of the region", Chairman of the Organizing Committee on organization of the torch relay in Shymkent Ali Bektayev noted.
Sydney Olympic silver medalist boxer Mukhtarkhan Dildabekov, two-time all-around champion of Asia, tenfold champion of Kazakhstan gymnast Aliya Yusupova, fourfold winner of the World Cup on Greco-Roman wrestling Bisolt Detsiyev, two-time world sambo champion Leonid Prikazchikov were among honorary torchbearers.
"Almaty and Astana are the major heroes for all mass media not only in Kazakhstan, but in the world. All world TV channels will broadcast Almaty and Astana; all mass media will talk about this and those cities, which the torch relay travels through. Hence we can say that whole Kazakhstan and all Kazakhstani people participate in preparatory work for the Asian Games. Today thousands of sport fans - youth, veterans, sportsmen - gathered for welcoming the relay participants", A.Bektayev added.
The Organizers think that the relay and Asian Games will positively influence the Kazakhstani people and arouse their interest in sport.
"This event is a serious patriotic step. Today we have constructed more than 300 sports structures, and many sports facilities are under construction and repair", A.Bektayev said.