UNESCO TSG Delegation comprising of Chairman Khalil Ahmed Khan, Coordinator Marcellin Dally and Rapporteur Shammi K. Rana visited Astana, Kazakhstan on the invitation of Mr. Arystanbek Mukhameduily Minister of Culture and Sports of Kazakhstan in May 2018.
ASTANA: On the invitation of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the TSG Delegation visited Astana for holding talks on the possible hosting of First-ever World Traditional Sports and Games in 2021 in Nur-sultan (Astana), Kazakhstan on the occasion of its 30th Independence Year.
A tripartite letter of intent was signed between the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Association of National Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the UNESCO Ad Hoc Advisory Committee on Traditional Sports and Games at the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan on 31st May 2018.
The document between Kazakh Ministry of Culture and Sports , the Association of National Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the UNESCO Advisory Committee on Traditional Sports and Games was signed by Minister Arystanbek Mukhameduily, Kairat Satybaldyuly and Chairman Khalil Ahmed Khan, respectively. The Letter of Intent included cooperation between the three parties on the field of traditional sports and games and the intent for hosting the First World Traditional Sports and Games in Kazakhstan. The Kazakhstan Ethnosport Association officially submitted a bid to UNESCO that was to be finalized during the 4th UNESCO Collective Consultation Meeting 2018 at Turkey in August 2018.
While talking to the media, Chairman Khan said, "Today we have signed the Letter of Intent between our Committee, National Sports Association and the Ministry. Kazakhstan has expressed its intent for hosting the upcoming UNESCO World Traditional Sports and Games and we are grateful for that. We hope to cooperate with Kazakhstan at the global level in the future."
The President of the Association Mr. Satybaldyuly said that if UNESCO supports Kazakhstan's bid application, then many Kazakh athletes will be able to show their talent in national sports to the world on the 30th anniversary of the country's independence in 2021 in Nur-sultan (Astana).
The TSG Delegation also attended the Tenge Ilu Championship and Audaryspak Championship (Kazakh traditional sports) that were held in June 2018 at Kazanat Racetrack in Astana.
