Kazakhstan gearing up for Rio 2016 Olympics - Minister

ASTANA. KAZINFORM - Kazakhstan will become a great sports nation, if our team ends up in the top 3 in the overall medal standings at the Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, believes Minister of Culture and Sports Arystanbek Mukhamediuly.

Minister Mukhamediuly voiced his opinion at the enlarged sitting of the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Astana on Monday. He noted that the ministry had already focused on the preparations for the upcoming Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Meanwhile, Kazakhstani athletes have already grabbed the first Olympic licenses. "Team Kazakhstan was ranked third in the medal tally at the 2015 Universiade. This is something that has never happened before. Just imagine what if we will be ranked third in Rio de Janeiro?! Then, we will be able to proudly say that Kazakhstan is a great sports nation," Minister Mukhamediuly told participants of the sitting.