The Supreme Audit Chamber (SAC) has summarised the results of the state audit into the effectiveness of budget funds allocated for the training and preparation of athletes. The inspection covered the period from 2021 to 2024.
According to the press service of the agency, the number of people participating in sports in Kazakhstan has increased by 24% over three years, reaching 8.4 million people (over 40% of the population). Meanwhile, state spending on the development of the sector doubled: from 153 billion tenge in 2021 to 315 billion tenge in 2024.
Despite the positive trend in sports participation, the audit revealed systemic problems in the field of high-performance sport and the training of the sports reserve.
"During the years of independence, the Republic of Kazakhstan adopted 3 concepts, 4 state programmes and 1 comprehensive plan for the development of physical culture and sport. However, despite the extensive regulatory framework, a systematic approach to the development of high-performance sport was not established," the report states.
For instance, the current Comprehensive Plan for 2020–2025 lacks measures aimed at high-performance sport. Objectives from the previous concept up to 2025 were not implemented; they have been carried over to the new concept up to 2029.
"Shortcomings are also observed in scientific and methodological support. The Ministry did not conduct research work in the field of sport, and the stage plans did not take into account modern approaches to athlete training and medical-scientific support. Violations were also identified in the formation of the list of priority sports: decisions were made without a comprehensive analysis and often depended on the interests of sports federations. As a result, funding was allocated without considering the potential, results, and resource base. For example, more funds were allocated to certain non-Olympic sports than to Olympic disciplines in a similar group," the report states.
Around 2 billion tenge was spent from the budget on training athletes in five summer Olympic sports, whose participants were not even entered for the Olympic qualifying tournaments.
At the same time:
- for 6 Olympic sports, there are no approved comprehensive programmes;
- for 19 out of 46 sports, there are no athlete training programmes in sports organisations;
- for 11 sports in 2022–2024, not a single medal was won, despite costs of around 4 billion tenge.
An imbalance in staffing was identified: a shortage of coaches is observed in Olympic sports, while in non-Olympic sports the staff numbers are inflated — due to high results in winning medals and receiving corresponding payments.
Furthermore, auditors found that in 2021–2024, over 3.5 billion tenge was allocated to bonuses for administrative staff of the "Directorate for Sports Development". However:
- in several cases, bonuses exceeded the payroll fund;
- the average annual bonus per employee was 7.7 million tenge;
- supplements for the quality of the training process were even received by employees not involved in the preparation of athletes.
The total volume of identified violations amounted to 17 billion tenge:
- financial violations – 348 million tenge;
- ineffective planning – 2.8 billion tenge;
- ineffective use of funds – 13.7 billion tenge.
The auditors also identified 56 systemic deficiencies and 270 procedural violations. Following the inspection, 157 materials were sent for consideration of administrative liability.