Kazakh Mountaineering and Sport Climbing Federation set to expand its international cooperation

The Kazakh Mountaineering and Sport Climbing Federation and international cooperation expert, head of JA SA Florent Blaser, Lausanne, Switzerland, signed a partnership agreement on a gratuitous basis, Kazinform News Agency reports.

The agreement aims to widen international ties and develop projects in mountaineering, sport climbing, ski alpinism and ice climbing and improve international events, programs management and prospects for cooperation with international organizations.

The key goals of cooperation are to strengthen international ties between the Kazakh Mountaineering and Sport Climbing Federation and foreign organizations engaged in mountaineering, sport climbing, ski alpinism and ice climbing, attract best practices to raise the skills of Kazakhstan sportsmen and coaches, organize international competitions, conferences, boot camps and workshops.

As part of the agreement, the parties debated the key issues on the exchange of international practices, knowledge and technologies, the Kazakh Federation’s participation in international sporting and educational programs, and contribution to the organization of Kazakhstani sportsmen and coaches’ trips to the global events and competitions.

At the meeting with the Olympic Games medalists this year the Head of State focused on pressing issues stressing the need to strengthen the coaching staff and invite foreign coaches. Notably, three Kazakh Mountaineering and Sport Climbing Federation sportsmen demonstrated high results at the qualifies in Budapest, while Amir Maimuratov secured the Olympic quota spot. In 2024 for the first time ever Kazakhstan’s Amir Maimuratov ranked among the world’s top 5 strongest sport climbers in Men's Speed Sport Climbing. On the very first day of the qualifiers, Amir broke an Olympic record achieving the best result of 4.89 seconds and reaching the Men's Speed Sport Climbing quarterfinals.

The Head of State said Kazakh climbers showed impressive results at the Olympic Games. For the first time, athletes competed in two separate disciplines: Boulder & Lead and Speed. He said one way or the other everybody despite age or merits proved the right to compete and earn these medals. For some, it is just a start to the world of greatest sports achievements.

President of the Kazakh Mountaineering and Sport Climbing Federation Nursultan Shokanov said the great sports accomplishments of Amir Maimuratov who set the Olympic record became the victory of the entire Kazakhstan and Federation. Climbing is a relatively young as sport. Our task is to make mountaineering, sport climbing and ski alpinism one of the national sports and expand its scope. I am confident Kazakhstani climbers will use their best endeavors and honorably represent Kazakhstan in the international arena if the Federation creates all world-class conditions, he said.

Shokanov also noted that the signing of the agreement will let Kazakh sportsmen train at the best sites, and help coaches expand international cooperation, and apply new and more productive international approaches to train the best of the best athletes.

The Kazakh Mountaineering Federation was founded in 1957.

The Kazakh Mountaineering and Sport Climbing Federation was established in 2016. It is a full-fledged member of the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA), Asian Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UAAA), Euro-Asian Association of Mountaineering and Climbing and International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC).

It unites four sports: sport climbing, mountaineering, ski alpinism and ice climbing. Two of them are Olympic sports.

Sport climbing is an Olympic sport with athletes competing in bouldering, speed and lead. Sport climbing is being developed in 15 regions of Kazakhstan bringing together some 3,000 climbers. In 2016 sport climbing was included in the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo. Kazakhstan was the first among the CIS countries to win a quota place. Kazakh Rishat Khaibullin ranked among the top 3 at the 2019 World Championships and represented Kazakhstan at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo in 2021. Two more Kazakh female climbers Tamara Ulzhabayeva and Assel Marlenova are also placed high at large international competitions.

Ski alpinism is a winter sport that is set to debut as an offcial sport at the Winter Olympic Games 2026 in Italy.

Alpinism was added to the UNESCO's List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Over 15,000 Kazakhstanis are engaged in alpinism in Kazakhstan so far.

As earlier reported, Anar Burasheva is the first Kazakh woman to ever conquer the majestic mountain of the planet - Everest. In an interview with Kazinform News Agency correspondent, the well-known summiteer shared her plans and impressions after her ascent to the world’s highest peak.