Kazakhstan ready to host best Asian Winter Games in 2011

BEIJING - Early next year the Republic of Kazakhstan will be the first nation from the former Soviet Union to host the Asian Winter Games.

Taking place in the cities of Almaty and Astana from Jan 30 to the Feb 6, all indicators suggest these Games are expected to be the finest in the history of the Asian Winter Games. This claim is enhanced by Kazakhstan's status as an economic and political leader of the Central Asian region and its commitment to global cooperation.

The first Asian Games were held in New Dehli in 1951 and have taken place every four years, demonstrating a common sense of purpose and unity among the Asian states that take part. The Games themselves are rooted in principles of cooperation and understanding as they were founded in the wake of the Second World War as a means of demonstrating fraternity and peaceful relationships between countries who had recently gained independence.