ASTANA – Student athletes from a record 64 countries have signed on to participate in the Almaty 2017 Winter Universiade, the Universiade’ s organising committee announced April 5.
National athletic federations from Europe, Asia, America, Africa and Oceania have registered for the games.
The participation surpasses the previous record of 52 countries, which participated in the 2011 Universiade in Erzurum. Other high participation games have included 50 countries in Trentino in 2013, 48 in Turin in 2007, 44 in Harbin in 2009 and 42 countries at the 2015 games in Granada and Strbkske pleso.
“Winter Universiade in Almaty is in the active phase of the preparations. All the operational activities follow the requirements of the International University Sports Federation. All functions will be pre-tested in test events before the event. Our goal is to hold the Winter Universiade in Almaty in an innovative and efficient way. We are confident that the games will leave an important mark on the popularisation of university sports in Kazakhstan, as well as in the development of sport among youth of all over the world,” noted the head of the Organising Committee for the Winter Universiade in Almaty 2017 Asset Abdualiyev.
Almaty will host the games from Jan. 29 until Feb. 8, 2017. More than 200 athletes are expected to take part. The competitions will be held in 12 winter sport disciplines in eight venues: biathlon, alpine skiing, curling, speed skating, Nordic combined, cross-country skiing, ski jumping, snowboarding, figure skating, freestyle skiing, ice hockey and short track.
Around 30,000 guests and tourists are expected to visit Almaty for the games. The event will be broadcast in 80 countries.
Registration to participate in the Almaty 2017 Universiade began Jan. 29
