Officials and Businessmen Using Sports Federations for Self-Promotion To End — Toqayev

President Qasym-Jomart Toqayev congratulated rescuers on their professional holiday and, in the same address, commented on the work of sports federations, where businessmen and officials often hold senior positions, Orda.kz reports.

The president noted that many such figures use these posts for personal image-building and publicity rather than for the actual development of sport.

Toqayev emphasized that both entrepreneurs and civil servants have become accustomed to relying on state funds and rarely invest their own money in athletics.

He instructed the Presidential Administration to address the issue and end the practice.

Entrepreneurs rely much more on state funding for sports, unwilling to invest their own funds. Government officials also view these high-ranking positions as a means of personal promotion, failing to recognize the true significance of sport. Some even claim athletes' successes as their own. Heading federations to enhance one's own prestige at home and abroad is unacceptable,
 Toqayev said.

At present, a number of major sports organizations in Kazakhstan are indeed led by officials and business executives, including:

• Zhenis Kasymbek, Akim of Astana – Vice President of the Athletics Federation
  
• Kuanyshbek Yesekeyev, Assistant to the President – Head of the Judo Federation
  
• Nurlan Zhakupov, Head of Samruq-Qazyna – President of the Water Sports Federation
  
• Maulen Ashimbayev, Speaker of the Senate – Head of the Boccia Federation
  
• Nauryzbay Baikadamov, Senator – Head of the Association of Handball Federations
  
• Yerzhan Birzhanov, Vice Minister of Finance – President of the Triathlon Federation

A similar issue has surfaced before. Before Gennady Golovkin, the National Olympic Committee was chaired for many years by Timur Kulibayev.

Lawmakers at the time noted that it was under his leadership that Kazakhstan’s sporting results began to decline, while also raising concerns about the dominance of representatives of “Old Kazakhstan” in sports governance.

Today, President Toqayev made it clear that the era when sports leadership served as a platform for personal ambition and prestige is coming to an end.

Original Author: Zarina Fayzulina