On 21 February, the opening of the XI regional student games was held. The purpose and objectives of the competition are the adoption of a healthy lifestyle among student youth, bringing them to regular sports, and strengthening cooperation among universities.
The competition is held in two stages: first, students competed within their university, then the winners put together into a team for the Regional Interuniversity Olympics. Judging is realized by the best referee of the region, each of them is approved by the Department of physical culture and sport of Karaganda region.
The Olympics are held in 13 sports: cross country skiing (relay race), speed skating, Winter Presidential all-round, mini-football, volleyball, basketball, Kazakh kures, table tennis, chess, draughts, togyzkumalak, athletics and asyk atu.
Opening the ceremony, Head of the regional Department of Physical Culture and Sports Natalya Sukhorukova noted: “These competitions are held in the wake of the world student games, where our athletes showed the best result in its history. We are confident that these competitions will become the starting point in the sports biography”. Natalya Evgenyevna wished good luck to our athletes who fight in the Japanese Sapporo on Winter Asian Games”.
Continuing the official part, the Vice-rector of KSTUAristotel Zeinullinovich Issagulov pointed out the important social function of these games: “Nothing unites like sports. We expect bright sporting results and chivalry from the Olympics”.
According to the results of weekly competitions, winners and prize-winners in the team event will be awarded with cups, diplomas and valuable prizes from akim of the region. The teams ranked first, second and third places in individual sports are awarded with diplomas and medals. By the way, the last five years, garland of victory among the universities of the region is kept confidently by KSTU, holding on the top of honour since 2012. Second and third places are most often divided between the students of Medical University and Technical University, a team from KEU is a little behind them. Closing of competitions will be held on 27 February in the athletics arena.