Kazakhstan ready for landmark event in its history

The 2011 Asian Winter Games will be the most significant sporting event in the history of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Fifteen nations battled for the right to host the Seventh Asian Winter Games, including heavyweights such as China and Japan.

The President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, said the unanimous decision by council members to hold the Games in Kazakhstan was a measure of high confidence in the country and in its leader, Nursultan Nazarbayev.

"I am confident that the 2011 Asian Winter Olympic Games will be one of the best," he said.