The FBRK editorial team continues to review the largest government procurements of Kazakh ministries in 2024.
We have already examined the government procurements of the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Ecology, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Digital Development and Ministry of National Economy. Now it is time to examine the most expensive procurements of the Ministry of Tourism and Sport (MTS).
The ministry's largest project in 2024 was the construction of the National University of Sport in Astana. The total budget for the two phases of construction amounted to an impressive sum – 124.7 billion tenge.
In October last year, First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar inspected, how the construction of the facility was progressing.
It was reported that construction had moved to the second phase, which includes the construction of key facilities: a conference hall, an administrative building, lecture halls, a library with a research centre, a canteen, and a covered central avenue.
The project also includes the construction of student dormitories, residential complexes for teachers, and a medical rehabilitation centre.
The funding history of the project reflects its complexity. The first phase, which began in 2022, underwent several changes in budget allocation, which amounted to around 52.8 billion tenge.
The initial plan (9.8 billion in 2022, 33.6 billion in 2023, and 9.4 billion in 2024) was significantly adjusted. By December 2024, the allocation had taken a new form: 6.5 billion for 2022, 18.6 billion for 2023, 20.7 billion for 2024, and additional expenditure for 2025 – 6.9 billion tenge.
The second phase of construction also shows significant changes in financing. The total expenditure for this stage exceeds 71.8 billion tenge.
The initial allocation (4.9 billion in 2023, 37.2 billion in 2024, and 34.1 billion in 2025) was revised. The updated plan provided for the same 4.9 billion in 2023, but reduced 2024 expenditure to 16.8 billion, increasing the 2025 budget to 54.6 billion tenge. The second phase of construction is to be completed no later than 26 December 2025.
The project is impressive in its scale: the college will be able to accommodate over 500 students, and the university — over 2,000 undergraduates and 60 master's and doctoral students. This educational institution is intended to be a key platform for training specialists in the field of professional sport, including coaches, sports managers, psychologists, and researchers.
At the same time, the state continues to invest significant funds in athlete training, as vividly illustrated by the largest procurements of the Ministry of Tourism and Sport.
An analysis of the Ministry of Tourism and Sport's government procurements in 2024 shows a clear imbalance between the two areas of the department's work. The sports sector received the lion's share of funding, while the tourism industry remained in the shadows.
The second largest item of expenditure is training for international-level athletes – 30.7 billion tenge. These funds are directed towards organising training camps, participation in international competitions, paying coaching staff, and providing athletes with necessary equipment and kit.
For the implementation of Olympic programmes, taking into account only the very largest contracts, approximately 13.9 billion tenge has been allocated. These funds cover a wide range of activities: from targeted training of the Olympic team to the development of Olympic sports in the country's regions.
Special attention has been given to the development of Paralympic sport, for which 5.2 billion tenge has been allocated. These funds are intended for training athletes with physical disabilities.
Rounding out the list of major expenditures is medical care for athletes, with a budget of 2.1 billion tenge. This sum includes costs for regular medical check-ups, rehabilitation programmes, and other medical services.
Such an emphasis on the sports sector could be explained by several factors. Firstly, the Paris Olympic Games held in 2024 required enhanced athlete preparation. Secondly, the creation of sports infrastructure is a long-term investment in the nation's health. Thirdly, successes in international sport are traditionally seen as an important element of national prestige.
However, the question arises: is the ministry missing opportunities to develop the country's tourism potential by focusing almost exclusively on the sports sector?
It should also be noted that the recent Olympic Games brought Kazakhstan only seven medals: one gold, three silver, and three bronze. The gold medal was won by judoka Yeldos Smetov, who triumphed in the under 60-kilogram category.
As a reminder, in August last year, the FBRK editorial team conducted an analysis of the medal achievements of the national team at the Olympic Games in various years, attempting to assess how the team's results correlate with spending on sport in Kazakhstan.
Furthermore, we reviewed the performance of the Kazakhstan athletics team at the Paris Olympic Games, which ended in failure. The Kazakh team had 8 Olympic licences and promised to bring the country at least one silver medal. However, in reality, the best result for the athletes was 9th place, achieved by Kenyan-born athlete Norah Jeruto.
To be continued...