A conference titled "Sport in Kazakhstan: From Reforms to Results" was held in Astana to mark Sports Day. Representatives of the relevant ministry, athletes, scientists, and sports doctors discussed key changes in the industry, the reallocation of budget in favor of children's sports, and the country's readiness to host major international tournaments, reports infohub.kz.
The initiator and organizer of the dialogue platform was the public association "Sportshylar Kengesi" — an independent organization uniting current and retired athletes. The conference program was opened by Vice Minister of Tourism and Sports Serik Zharasbayev.
One of the main indicators of the reform's effectiveness was the optimization of state spending on professional clubs. According to experts, 3.5 billion tenge, which were previously allocated annually from the budget to pay salaries to foreign athletes (legionnaires), were fully redirected in 2026. Now these funds are fully channeled into the development of mass and youth sports and infrastructure.
In the coming years, Kazakhstan will host several major world competitions and international forums. "In October 2026, Astana will host the World Wrestling Championships, and in November of the same year, the WADA Executive Committee meeting. In 2027, Kazakhstan will host six world championships — in boxing, judo, taekwondo, table tennis, esports, and the junior short track championship, as well as the 51st UEFA Congress," the press service reported.
The conference focused on three key areas: the effectiveness of public administration and reforms, the introduction of digitalization, sports medicine and science, and the continuity of generations in mass sports. The creation of a unified platform with the participation of the "Sportshylar Kengesi" public association allowed for a direct dialogue between decision-making officials and the sports community, which directly experiences the results of the ongoing transformations.