President of Kazakhstan’s National Olympic Committee (NOC) Timur Kulibayev was elected April 13 Vice-President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).
Photo by vlast.kz
According to the NOC’s press service, his candidacy was unanimously approved by the Olympic Council of Asia Executive Committee, headed by the organisation President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah. Commenting on his appointment, the head of the National Olympic Committee of Kazakhstan emphasised that the Asian region, as the fastest growing in the world, attracts increasing attention from the international sports community.
“The Central Asian region, of course, is of particular interest in terms of the development of the Olympic movement, of international sporting events. Representing the interests of our country at the Olympic Council of Asia is a great honour for me. It is also recognition of Kazakhstan’s [role] in the international sports community, which will allow to further strengthen cooperation between Kazakhstan and Asian sports organisations,” Kulibayev said.
The OCA is one of the five continental associations of National Olympic Committees recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). It currently brings together 45 states.
The organisation coordinates and manages the Olympic movement in the member countries of the OCA, organises summer and winter Asian Games, events in beach sports and indoor games. OCA not only assists in holding the Asian Games and the regional and international competitions but is an authorised body for the resolution of issues among its members and other parties. OCA headquarters is in Kuwait.
Kulibayev is also vice-president of the International Amateur Boxing Association AIBA and a member of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC).
