Opening and closing ceremonies of 2011 Winter Asian Games to be held in Astana

ASTANA. March 18. KAZINFORM /Bauyrzhan Mukanov/ Today at the sitting of the Public Committee for control over Astana urban development Prime Minister Karim Massimov charged the Ministry of Tourism and Sport and Astana akimat to study the possibility to hold the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2011 Winter Asian Games in Astana.

According to Imangali Tasmagambetov, Mayor of Astana, construction of a skating stadium will be continued this year. Reconstruction of Kazakhstan Sports Palace is to start in July. In accordance with the preliminary program of the Games the opening ceremony is scheduled for January 30, 2011 and will be held at the roofed football stadium of Astana. The closing ceremony is scheduled for February 6 at Medeo sports complex in Almaty. It is planned to complete the construction of an ice-stadium with a 400m track, an Ice palace, a roofed football stadium and an Olympic village in Astana. 2 000 sportsmen are expected to participate in the Games.