Within two years, all rural districts of the Atyrau region will receive modern sports infrastructure. This was announced by the region's akim, Serik Shapkenov, at a government meeting dedicated to the development of mass sport.
It is planned that by the end of the current year, 70% of the 68 rural districts will be equipped with sports facilities, and the implementation of large-scale projects will increase the provision of sports infrastructure to the population from 62% to 70%.
According to the akimat, 800 sports facilities are operational in the region. Among them are 8 stadiums, 53 sports complexes, and 702 sports grounds. Major modern facilities include an Olympic-sized 50-metre swimming pool, the «Atyrau» Sports Palace, a tennis centre, and an ice palace. In addition to state-run facilities, the population is served by 17 private sports facilities.
Active construction is currently underway in the region. Of the 29 sports complexes, 7 have already been commissioned, another 6 will be completed by the end of the year, and the remaining 16 facilities are planned to be handed over next year. Additionally, 4 sports facilities are being built in the city of Atyrau and rural areas using sponsor funds. These include specialised volleyball and basketball centres, as well as complexes in the villages of Mukyr and Kudryashovo.
Special attention is being paid to the training of gifted athletes. The construction of a boarding school for the Olympic reserve is planned in Atyrau. The project will be implemented as a public-private partnership over six years, including 12 months of construction and five years of technical operation. The complex will include 13 sports halls, a swimming pool, an academic building, a dormitory, a canteen, and a library. Here, 400 athletes will be able to study and train in 12 Olympic sports. Construction is scheduled to begin in April 2026.
As part of corporate social responsibility, the Texol group of companies has begun construction of a sports and health complex covering an area of 19,000 sq. m, where conditions will be created for 12 sports.
In accordance with the instructions of the Head of State, announced at the National Kurultai, major international-level sports projects are being prepared for implementation in Atyrau. These include a National Equestrian Complex (hippodrome), a EURO-IV category football stadium with 12,000 seats, and a multi-purpose sports complex «Atyrau Arena». To date, design work has been completed and state expert review is being finalised. Construction is planned to begin next year.
According to the akimat, the level of systematic involvement of the population of the Atyrau region in physical culture is 45.1%. By the end of the year, the figure is expected to increase to 46%.