New regulations: what Kazakhstan athletes will now receive funding for.
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Kazakhstan has introduced an important legislative initiative that could transform the funding deficit situation across various sports, reports Caravan.kz.
Under the current system for prioritizing sports for government funding, situations have arisen that are difficult to logically explain. For instance, freestyle mogul, which won a medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics and consistently brings home medals from championships and World Cups, has been placed in Group B—ranked lower than cross-country skiing and biathlon, which haven't achieved similar results in a long time.
If the new bill is passed, such scenarios will no longer occur. According to the draft legislation, priority sports will be selected not based on world rankings, but rather on the performances of national teams at the Olympic, Paralympic, Deaflympic, Asian, and Para-Asian Games.
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports emphasizes that these changes aim to clarify priorities in the training of Kazakhstan's sports teams and create a system based on international results. Thus, a concrete and results-oriented policy will be implemented, allowing for increased competitiveness of Kazakh athletes in international competitions. ⠀
“This bill is aimed at implementing innovations in the sports sector, increasing efficiency, and ensuring high results for Kazakhstan's sports teams in international tournaments. We consider the results from the Olympic, Paralympic, Deaflympic, Asian, and Para-Asian Games as the main benchmark and strive to elevate the sports sector of our country to a new level,” highlighted Yerbol Myrzabosynov.
There is hope that the adoption of this bill will enhance the sports development system in the country and ensure that Kazakhstan achieves outstanding results on the global sports stage.
This document also proposes significant changes regarding the preparation of sports reserves. According to the draft legislation, the sports reserve will be prepared exclusively for sports related to high-performance sports. The training of athletes will be conducted strictly in accordance with the national standards of sports training established by the authorized body. This measure aims to enhance the potential of Kazakhstan's national teams and create a foundation for the systematic development of the sports industry. Additionally, new rules regarding government funding for professional sports are being proposed. The draft legislation will establish a limit on government funding for professional clubs. This measure will improve the efficiency of budget expenditures and ensure the rational use of funds allocated for sports development.
As for the federations, the proposed new model provides for the subordination of local federations to accredited republican (or regional) sports federations. This change is aimed at centralizing management in the field of sports development, enhancing efficiency, and clearly defining responsibilities.
Another significant change is the proposal to prohibit funding for athletes who are not citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan from the state budget and the funds of quasi-state sector entities. This measure is aimed at ensuring priority for citizens of Kazakhstan in both the sports field and financial support.
Another crucial point in the draft law is the new concept of “accompanying an athlete with a disability.” This innovation will allow first-group athletes with disabilities to receive assistance when participating in sporting events. The bill is aimed at expanding the freedom of movement and conditions for the participation of athletes with disabilities in sports competitions.
According to representatives of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, this change promotes increased inclusivity in sports and creates favorable conditions for the participation of citizens with disabilities in sporting events.
It is worth noting that Kazakhstan currently develops over 180 sports. However, each year medals are only won in 13 summer and 5 winter Olympic sports. While Kazakh athletes won 370 medals in 2018, that figure dropped to 105 medals in 2020. This situation is attributed to deficiencies in the athlete preparation system at all stages, from initial training to high-performance sports.
Moreover, annual expenses for maintaining children’s and youth sports schools and sports boarding schools are rising, with a significant portion allocated to training in non-Olympic sports. Between 2018 and 2020, 646 billion tenge was allocated for the development of all sports, of which nearly 72% was spent on sports that are not priorities for the country.
To improve the situation, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports conducted research on international experience. Based on the practices of Uzbekistan, Belarus, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Norway, a draft law was developed that proposes introducing restrictions on sports related to high-performance sports.
According to the new system, only those sports included in the programs of the Olympic, Paralympic, Deaflympic, Asian, and Para-Asian Games, as well as national sports, will be included in the list of high-performance sports. In turn, sports that have shown medal-winning results will be classified as priority sports and will be funded first at both republican and local levels. These measures will allow for effective management of the sports sector and the rational use of limited resources.
Previously, the president of the Asian Paralympic Committee, Majid Rashid, commented on the DNA of Kazakh athletes.