Winter sports such as biathlon, speed skating, cross-country skiing, figure skating, short track and ice hockey are developed in Aktobe region.
This was announced by Acting head of the Department of Physical Culture and Sports Genghis Shokputov at a staff meeting chaired by the akim of the region.
The number of people involved in these sports is 10,015. The most popular sport is cross–country skiing, in which 7,257 people participate, 1,220 people are engaged in hockey, and 720 people are engaged in figure skating. There are also 4 youth sports schools for winter sports, where 586 children go.
For winter sports, there is an ice palace, the Olympus ice module at Youth Sports School No. 5, 6 ski bases, 82 hockey fields, 3 of them indoor and 79 outdoor. However, the issue of the shortage of qualified coaches and teachers in figure skating and ice hockey, as well as the lack of the necessary sports base for the development of biathlon, remains open.
As noted by Genghis Shokputov, the national team of Kazakhstan in winter sports includes two athletes from the region: one in biathlon, one in cross-country skiing. Athletes regularly participate in national and international competitions, and undergo training camps as part of the national team. In addition, the Olympic reserve training center has a biathlon department, whose pupil, Vladimir Konevets, is a champion of Kazakhstan and a participant in the World Cup.
"The Asian Winter Games are scheduled to be held in Harbin (China) this year. Two athletes from Aktobe region apply for participation in them: Beksultan Yernur (cross-country skiing) and Vladimir Konevets (biathlon). Beksultan Yernur will take part in the Winter Universiade in Turin (Italy) in January. He has a chance to get to the Asian Games if he makes it into the top 10 at the Universiade. Vladimir Konevets has received a ticket to the World Cup in Austria, which will be held in March. His results at the qualifying competitions will also determine the possibility of participating in the Asian Games," Genghis Shokputov said.
"We must actively develop winter sports not only in the regional center, but also in the districts. To do this, it is necessary to create appropriate conditions, build new sports facilities, and provide districts with modern equipment. It is necessary to attract qualified coaches and specialists, as well as to encourage the participation of our athletes in national and international competitions. It is important that young people and schoolchildren actively engage in winter sports. At the same time, we will work on improving the transport infrastructure to ensure convenient access to sports facilities for all residents of the region," the mayor said, summing up the meeting.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/aktobe/press/news/details/916958