Astana, Kazakhstan, February 8, 2026: The National Olympic Committee of Kazakhstan held an educational course for sports managers in Astana last month under the umbrella of the Olympic Solidarity programme.
The seminar was part of the Kazakhstan NOC’s systematic efforts to enhance sports management and was designed for specialists from National Federations and sports organisations.
The course format focused on pressing issues in modern sports administration, facilitating not only knowledge transfer but also professional exchange between participants and speakers.
Olympic champion and Kazakhstan Swimming Sports Federation General Secretary Dmitriy Balandin was a featured speaker and shared his personal professional journey and the transition from athlete to manager.
“I try not to miss such educational initiatives by the Kazakhstan NOC and always participate with great interest. Having attended international courses and seminars, I can say that the content and practical value of the Kazakhstan NOC programmes is on par with global standards,” Balandin noted.
“This time, I participated both as a student and a speaker, conducting a session on the career transition from an athlete to a manager. Throughout my career, I have experienced almost every role in sports from athlete to coach, and now as an official. It is important to share this experience,” Balandin added.
A scientific and medical part of the seminar was conducted in partnership with the NU School of Medicine. It included discussions on the role of sports science, medicine and anti-doping policy in the training and support systems for athletes.
The implementation of educational courses under the Olympic Solidarity programme is a key instrument in developing the managerial potential of national sports organisations.
