ASTANA (Kazakhstan) - FIBA President Sheikh Saud Ali Al Thani concluded on Tuesday a two-day visit to Kazakhstan which included official meetings with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and with the sporting and cultural leadership of the country.
The visit was planned around the General Assembly of the Kazakhstan Basketball Federation, which ultimately came to a close on Tuesday with the re-election of incumbent president Abay Alpamyssov for another term.
Sheikh Saud Ali Al Thani congratulated Mr. Alpamysov for his success, and underlined FIBA’s support for the development of the sport in the country and the strengthening of cooperation between FIBA and the Kazakhstan Basketball Federation.
The highlight of the two-day schedule was the meeting between Sheikh Saud Ali Al Thani and the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Also in attendance were Arman Kyrykbayev, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Yerbol Myrzabossynov, Minister of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Abay Alpamyssov, President of the Kazakhstan Basketball Federation; Abdallah bin Hussein Jaber, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Qatar to the Republic of Kazakhstan; and Natalia Galkina, FIBA Manager for National Federation Development.
The two Presidents discussed the prospects for further basketball development in Kazakhstan, the growth of grassroots and professional basketball, as well as possible opportunities for the country to host international basketball competitions.
To commemorate the occasion, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev presented Sheikh Saud Ali Al Thani with the Order of Dostyk, 2nd Class, Kazakhstan's state medal in recognition of his contribution to the development of basketball and the strengthening of international sports cooperation.
The FIBA President also visited the National Olympic Committee of Kazakhstan, meeting with NOC Secretary General Alimzhan Akayev, and the Kazakh National University of Sport
The university's Rector, Tursynzada Kuangalieva, awarded the FIBA President the title of Honorary Professor of the Kazakh National University of Sport, in recognition of his contribution to the development of global basketball and international sports cooperation.
FIBA