JUDO
FEDERATION

The first group of ten Kazakhstani sports professionals has successfully completed training abroad in the framework of the international program "Bolashak" and returned to Kazakhstan. This was reported by Service Public Relations of Confederation of combat and strength sports. Coaches and sports managers, a participant of the Beijing Olympics Judoka Sagat Abikeeva, a winner of the Asian Games on Judo Sholpan Kaliyeva and others were trained sports management in the Russian International Olympic University (RIOU) in Sochi. They have been trained in sports facilities directly in the run-up to the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2014. Also Kazakhstani specialists had the opportunity to meet with the president of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach during the training. We should note that RIOU is the only educational institution in the world, which have an official status of Olympic University.

The Confederation of combat and strength sports became the initiator of training of Kazakhstani sportsmen on the program "Bolashak". Earlier this year the organization entered into a tripartite memorandum with JSC "Center for International Programs" and the Agency for Sports and Physical Culture Affairs. The Confederation has prepared a list of candidates for the scholarship "Bolashak" under this agreement, and has developed a training program for Kazakhstani coaches and sports managers together with the Russian international institution of higher education. Training and professional development is one of the eight directions, marked by the chairman of the Confederation Timur Kulibayev.

In early morning on December, 9, the group was warmly welcomed in the walls of the capital's airport. Sportsmen with pleased faces and certificates of successful completion of courses shared their impressions, ideas and plans for future.

Sholpan Kaliyeva, the coach of the national women's judo team:

- I was very happy about the opportunity, which had been given us, not only to gain new knowledge, but to do so in the thick of the upcoming Olympic events. We were trained in the Olympic University. Expectations came true completely. The highly qualified teachers were engaged in our training, they all knew their business. Training was challenging and hard - from morning till evening.

Aiman Kaliyeva, the coach of the junior judo team:

- The Olympic facilities became a bright impression for me. There are beautiful buildings, professional workers - preparing is in full swing.

Aisulu Kalymkhalieva, the senior coach of the women's national taekwondo team (Atyrau)

- We got a lot of important and useful information about sports management. All the tutors supported us a lot, directed our attention to important things. Due to this training we have a lot of ideas that we would like to introduce here, in Kazakhstan. Practical experience, which the great practitioners of sports have shared with us, has become an invaluable lesson that will help us to modernize and improve the system of management of sports in our country.

Roza Mukhamediarova, the manager of the Judo Federation of Kazakhstan:

- According to a five-point scale, I rate the training on a solid top five. We were taught by the stars of sports education. Professors from Germany, France, Austria, Greece, Ukraine and Russia gave us lectures. They are skillfully combined theory with practice. We are happy that we managed to see all the pre-Olympic cycle, active work, which is now being carried out in Sochi. We even felt like a part of the Olympic team. I have a plan to enter the University for MSA - master of sport administration, next year.

Sagat Abikeeva, the high school of sports (Karaganda)

- Lectures of professors were especially memorable. Knowledge that we have gained during the training, will surely find an outlet in our future. Everyone chose his or her final work - a topic on which he or she would defend his or her thesis in the end of course. I chose the theme - "Innovation Management and its application in sport". I think that this theme is very difficult. But there were all the conditions in the University to learn the material and prepare well. Practice at the Olympic facilities produced an incredible impression on me. Preparing for the Olympics is in full swing, everything is at the highest level. There are a very young, but professional team of managers. I think that everything will have a great success. Management is the work of the team. And I will do all possible to develop it here, in Kazakhstan. Thanks to our President for the opportunity to participate in the program "Bolashak". Thank Confederation of combat and strength sports and the Agency for Sports and Physical Culture Affairs. Due to the conclusion of a tripartite memorandum, we had the opportunity to be among the first ones to receive educational diplomas with the Olympic rings.