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Kazakhstan goes Sports mad!

Sport in Kazakhstan has become a national passion – uniting denominations, age groups and genders. And this in a country where just a few years ago, sports facilities were scarce! Since independence (in 1991), Kazakh athletes have enjoyed increased access to facilities and major international competitions.

One of the most popular sports in Kazakhstan is ice hockey (Kazakhstan ranks 11th in the world ratings). 218 ice stadiums are currently operating in Kazakhstan. The hockey school of Ust-Kamenogorsk has already raised several generations of world-famous players, including Evgeni Nabokov and Dimitri Patzold of the San Jose Sharks (NHL), Nikolai Antropov of the Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL), and other famous players employed by Russian teams.

Cycling is also hugely popular in Kazakhstan. In 2006, the Astana cycling team was established - and sponsored by the country’s most successful companies. Within months, the team was acknowledged as one of the strongest in the world.
However, Kazakh cycling was temporarily hit by scandal involving the team’s star cyclists - Alexander Vinokurov and Andrei Kashechkin.

In 2008, the all-new Astana team comprises a number of former Discovery riders including the 2007 Tour de France winner Alberto Contador, and the 3rd place finisher Levi Leipheimer. Also wearing the Astana team colours are native Kazakh cyclists headed by Andrei Mizurov, Maksim Iglinsky and Asan Bazayev. Kazakhstan also boasts a professional youth team Ulan – which, in addition to the Kazakhs, includes cyclists from Lithuania. (more)

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Culture & Traditions

LITERATURE

Before the 19th century, Kazakhstan had no written language of its own. Literature took the form of long oral poems, recited by bards (aquins) in a song-like chant and accompanied by traditional instruments like drums and a dombra , a mandolin-like string instrument. Recitals and poetry contests (aitys) are still very popular. The founder of modern Kazakh literature is said to be Abay Kunanbaev (1845-1904 - see illustration left), a 19th century poet and writer who translated Russian works into the Kazakh language. His main contribution to Kazakh culture and folklore is his poetry, which expresses strong nationalism and grew out of Kazakh folk culture. His most famous philosophic work, "Words of edification", is said to be a spiritual commandment to the Kazakh nation. Other writers and poets include Akhmet Baitursynov, Bakhytzhan Kanapyanov, Nirjaqip Dulatuli, Bukhar-zhirau Kalmakanov, Makhambet Utemisov and many others.

Philosophy

Chokan Valikhanov (1835-1865see illustration left), from which Kazakhstan’s Academy of Sciences takes its name, was the first Kazakh scholar, ethnographer and historian. A descendant of Ghenghis Khan, Valikhanov was one of the first Kazakhs to be educated in Russian and published books and articles devoted to the history and culture of Central Asia. Notable works include "Kirghiz (Kazakhs)," "Traces of shamanism in Kirghiz", "About Kirghiz nomads' camp" and others containing ethnographic data that have been used to date. He also wrote the Kazakh epic poems "Kozy-Korpesh and "Bayan-Sulu" and the Kyrgyz epic "Manas.”

Lifestyle

Astana, the Kazakh capital, and Almaty the former capital, are modern cosmopolitan cities in which the population live identical lives to those of other major Western capitals. Most Kazakhs live in urban apartment blocks, houses finished to international standards. The wealthy denizens of Astana have the option of occupying penthouse flats overlooking the city and the ever-receeding steppes. The latest important residential complex under construction - the Abu Dhabi Plaza - is designed by Norman Foster.

Ethnic & Social Diversity

Kazakhstan’s principal ethnic groups include Kazakh (58.9%), Russian (25.9%), Ukrainian (2.9%), Uzbek (2.8%), Uighur, Tatar and German (1.5% each) and other groups (4%). There are more than 100 other ethnic groups living peacefully in Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan’s two main religions are Islam and Christianity (57% and 40% of all believers respectively). Most Muslims in Kazakhstan belong to the Sunni denomination, while most Christians belong to the Russian Orthodox Church. There are more than 40 confessions in Kazakhstan, organised into over 3000 religious organisations. Kazakh is spoken by over 52% of the population and is the state language. Russian is spoken by almost everyone and enjoys equal status under the Constitution.

Traditions

The traditional dwelling of the Kazakh nomad is the yurt, a tent made from a framework of willow wood and covered in felt, with a hole in the top to allow smoke to escape. When correctly constructed, a yurt enables its inhabitants to stay cool in summer and warm in winter. Some Kazakhs maintain a semi nomadic existence, moving their herds and flocks to summer pastures each year.

Cuisine

Traditional Kazakh food is similar to that of the Mediterranean in its use of rice, savoury seasonings, vegetables, yoghurts and grilled meats. Nomadic diet is heavy in mutton, dairy products and bread, while in the northern cities the food is heavily influenced by Russian cuisine. A popular dish is qazy, a horsemeat sausage served up with cold noodles, or the sweet plov, made with dried apricots, raisins and prunes. Food available in large towns and cities resembles that of any Western urban area; you can choose to eat Italian, Chinese, Japanese or French at several different price and quality levels - or opt for American-influenced fast food.

MEDIA

Kazakhstan I is the state television channel. Other country-wide TV stations are Khabar and Yel Arna. According to government statistics there are 116 private channels, including Kanal 31 and KTK. The state-owned Kazakh Radio broadcasts in both official languages. A wide number of private radio stations are also available including Europa Plus, Russkoye Radio, Hit FM, Radio Azattyq and Radio Karavan. According to government figures, there were 990 privately owned newspapers and 418 privately owned magazines.

MUSEUMS

Most of Kazakhstan’s museums are found in Almaty. The Central State Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan was established in the 1930s and today hosts four large exhibition halls covering hundreds of unique Kazakh exhibits including spiritual and cultural material describing the history of the country. The A. Kasteyev State Museum of Arts boasts over 20 thousand exhibits in its collection (painting, sculpture, decorative art). The Museum's acquisitions programme began when the Russian Museum and the A.S. Pushkin Museum of the Fine Arts delivered 200 works by Russian and Western masters in the 1930s. The collection traces art history from ancient to present times. In Almaty also, find The Archaeological Museum of the Kazakhstan National Academy of Sciences and The State Book Museum.

Sport

As in other aspects of Kazakhstan’s traditional culture, the horse plays a dominant role in sport – kökpar is a wilder version of polo using a goat’s carcass instead of a ball; and qyz quu, a chase between girl and boy on horseback. In contemporary terms, Kazakhstan is obsessed with football. The Kazakhstan First Division is controlled by the Football Union and feeds into the Kazakhstan Super League, founded in 1994. Kazakhstan competed at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. The largest contingent was their ice hockey squad of 23. The cross country skiing team was also sizeable, with a total of 19 Kazakh athletes entered. The cyclist Alexander Vinokourov is perhaps the best-known Kazakh athlete.Tennis, boxing, gymnastics, swimming and golf are also hugely popular. (more)

Cinema

Kazakhstan has a strong cinematic tradition: the first Kazakh cinemas date back to the beginning of the 20th century and the first filming took place in 1928. These were mainly short propaganda films, created by Russian directors and known as 'agitfilms'. The first Kazakh full length feature, 'Amangueldy' by Moisey Levin, was made in 1938 and was also the first film with sound. It has a narrative pattern typical of central Asian cinema, which places central importance on strong and heroic characters. Other notable early films include 'The Land of the Fathers' by Zemlya Ostov, 'The Balcony' by Kalykbek Salykov and 'The Island of Rebirth' by Rustem Abdrashev. More recently, Kazakhstan has proved a reliable and popular source of World Cinema. Below find an inexhaustive list of Kazakh films (and films made in Kazakhstan) distributed globally...

ARCHITECTURE - PRESENT

The majority of noteworthy new architecture is found in Astana. Currently under construction is Norman Foster’s Astana Entertainment Centre; the late Kisho Kurokawa’s Astana International Airport development (Kurokawa was also responsible for drawing up the masterplan for Astana) whiel the Turkish architect Murat Tabanlioglu is responsible for Astana Stadium (and the 18 storey Business Centre, Almaty).

ARCHITECTURE - PAST

Kazakhstan is full of architectural masterpieces reflecting its varied history.
The Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi (see pic.) and Petroglyphs within the archaeological landscape of Tamgaly are perhapos the most celebrated sites (they are both on Unesco’s World Heritage list). The Turkic sanctuary of Merke and the archaeological sites of Otrar oasis are hugely important works.

ART

Contemporary art goes from strength to strength in Kazakhstan and there is an evident desire in many ordinary Kazkhs to own and collect fine art. Rustam Khalfin - who has recorded a remarkable performance in which a soldier recreates the old Kazakh custom of making love to a woman on a galloping horse - is a star of the avant garde scene. Similarly, conceptual artists ‘The Red Tractor Group’ - a group of men who dress as nomadic shamans, beat leather drums and eat horsemeat and noodles as an art statement-have a signiciant following. Saule Suleimenova has captured the imaginations of audiences internationally with her inventive wax engravings on paper.

MUSIC

Evgeny Brussilovsky (1905-1981) was a Russian composer commissioned to research folk music in Kazakhstan. He spent most of his life in the Kazakh capital of Almaty where he wrote operas in national Kazakh style. Operas include Kiz-Ji-Bek (1934) and Er-Targhin (1937). On a totally different musical level is 13-year-old Madu - Kazakhstan’s answer to Madonna. A pretty brunette, Madu has already sold 500,000 CDs. The teen prodigy is produced by John Themis — who was the genius behind Boy George and cult Russian band TATU.