Best athletes in nordic disciplines to gather to Kazakhstan

Best athletes in nordic sports will come to Kazakhstan in a run-up to the Winter Universiade-2017, Tengrinews reports.

In the coming season, Almaty is going to host a number of international sport events, which are expected to greatly boost the development of sports in Kazakhstan and provide a significant experience of holding high level sport events in the run-up to the Winter Universiade-2017.

The 2nd World University Speed Skating Championship will take place in Almaty on December 18-21, 2014 at the famous Medeu high-mountain skating rink. 150 athletes from 20 countries are expected to participate in the tournament. 

The competition involves 500m, 1,000m, 1,500m, 5,000m races for men and women, 3,000m race for women and 10,000m race for man, and team races of 6 rounds for women and 8 rounds for men.

In the run-up to the Winter Universiade-2017, Almaty's Shymbulak mountain skiing resort will host Silver Edelweiss Alpine Skiing tournament on February 20-28, 2015. It is one of the oldest competitions held since 1961.

Participants from Germany, Poland, Austria, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Belarus, Ukraine, Canada and many other countries will come to Almaty to take part in the championship held under the auspices of the International Ski Federation (FIS).

Athletes will compete in four disciplines: Giant Slalom, Slalom, Super Giant and Downhill.

The FIS Nordic Junior World Ski Championship (JWSC) and U23 World Ski Championship Cross Country will be held in Almaty on February 2-8 at Sunkar International Ski Jumping Complex.

27 athletes from 40 countries are expected to participate in the event. The competition involves three disciplines: cross country, ski jumping and Nordic combined.

The Winter Universiade-2017 will take take place in Almaty from January 29 to February 8, 2017.

Two ice arenas with rinks and a multifunctional Olympic village capable of accommodating 5,000 people will be constructed for the Winter Universiade.

Besides the new facilities, the competitions will also involve the existing sports venues of Almaty: Baluan Sholak Sport Palace, International Ski Jumping Complex, Medeu high-altitude sport complex, Shymbulak Mountain Skiing Resort and Biathlon Complex will host the Universiade’s sport events.  It is also planned to reconstruct 20-25% of the roads in the city, modify the airport and railway stations, and launch environmentally-friendly gas-fueled public transport.

Writing by Assel Satubaldina, editing by Tatyana Kuzmina