Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, June 24, 2021: The President of the National Olympic Committee of Kazakhstan, Timur Kulibayev, spoke of his pride in the national team athletes heading for Tokyo 2020 on the occasion of Olympic Day 2021, June 23.
In a letter to the Kazakhstan Olympic family, the NOC President said Olympic Day brought everyone together across borders and highlighted the values of friendship, mutual understanding and solidarity.
Referring to the pandemic, he wrote: “The Olympic family went through a difficult time - uncertainty, a long wait - and yet our athletes did not lose hope.
“We are proud of the dignity and serenity with which our athletes have spent this period, supporting their fellow countrymen by their example, giving physical education lessons to schoolchildren and continuing to train, even at home, and remaining faithful to their dream to represent their country at the Olympic Games.
“Even in the face of the pandemic, NOC Kazakhstan continued to work to return athletes to training conditions as soon as possible.”
President Kulibayev said the NOC was grateful to the Head of State and the Government for their full support of the Olympians in this difficult period and creating a safe environment for athletes and coaches at closed training camps.
“There is one month to the historic Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo. Olympians from all over the world have been waiting for these Games for the longest time - five years. The Games will take place - and Kazakhstan is proud and hopes to send its best athletes to Tokyo,” he added.
“I urge everyone to unite and be guided by the principles of the Olympic Movement: to value friendship, mutual understanding, honesty and to look up to the best.”
In closing, he urged all the country to unite behind the efforts of the Kazakhstan athletes in Tokyo and wished the people all health and happiness on Olympic Day.