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Kazakh equestrian team: a long drive to Doha for Asian Games

(AP)
Updated: 2006-12-02 14:16

DOHA, Qatar_ This Kazakhstan story is for real.

When the equestrian team from the former Soviet republic realized it couldn't afford to fly its team and horses from its base in Germany to the Asian Games in Doha, it decided to drive nearly 7,000 kilometers (4,400 miles) to the Arabian Gulf for the competition.

For all Kazakhs upset or embarrassed by British comedian Sasha Baron Cohen's Borat character's irreverent portrayal of their homeland in a recent movie, the story of six riders, six horses and trainers in two trucks traveling across all manner of terrain, should make them proud.

The trip from northwest Germany lasted 13 days _ five days longer than expected _ because of border problems in Turkey and Syria. The convoy went via Austria, Italy and by ferry to Greece. From there it continued to Turkey, Syria, Jordan and through Saudi Arabia to Qatar.

"It is complicated but we had to do it," dressage competitor Sergey Buikevich said. "Every other option would have been too expensive or too long in quarantine."

Buikevich, 43, is also the vice president of the Kazakhstan equestrian federation and owner of two of the dressage horses in the team. He planned the tour and was one of the two drivers.

The team was using Germany as its base after the world equestrian championships were held in Aachen in August. Buikevich and his horse, Volta, competed at Aachen but did not make it past the first round.

Also on the team are Sergey Mironenko, Yegor Morotskiy, Oleg Popelyaev, Alexander Tishkov and Natalya Yurkevich. Several other coaches and trainers also made the trip, a team spokesman said Friday.

The horses were stranded in the truck for most of the trip, and Buikevich was concerned about their health after their arrival in Qatar.

"We have experience in traveling," Buikevich said. "But we will watch for signs of travel sickness."

A Kazakhstan delegation spokesman said she had been told that all the horses were recovering from the trip and preparing for the dressage competition that begins Sunday.

"They all appear to be OK," she said.

Kazakhstan is not expected to be among the medal favorites in Doha, with most previous Asian Games champions coming from South Korea and Japan.

The trip back home to Kazakhstan after the Asian Games should be much easier _ and shorter.

"From here it is only 4,000 kilometers (2,400 miles) and no big mountains to cross in winter," said Buikevich.