According to a report from Tengrinews, The Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan has given full accreditation the Qazaq Cybersport Federation recognizing esports as a sport in the country. This accreditation now gives the federation permission from the government to further establish esports in the country and represent it at international events.
The non-profit federation was created last year to bring awareness and structure to esports in Kazakhstan with one major goal: to pursue the necessary channels in the government to recognize esports and assist in the development of esports relations in Kazakhstan. Now that it has been accredited and approved by the government the federation will look to host international events, create broadcasts and programs around esports and assist in the “formation of a national team and ensuring its participation in international competitions”.
Kuanyshbek Esekeyev, President of the Qazaq Cybersport Federation and CEO of Kazakhtelecom JSC commented on the events in a recent Facebook post: “For the IT industry, esports is the key to the digital future. The guys clicking the mouse and pressing keyboard buttons will become tomorrow’s leaders of the global digital economy.”
The federation already has several branches set up throughout the country in Astana, Almaty, West Kazakhstan, East Kazakhstan, Kyzylorda, Pavlodar, Zhambyl and Karaganda regions, with more planned to be established.
While the Cybersport Federation was formed only last year to push an esports agenda, Kazakhstan has still produced esports stars with three players on Gambit Esports’ CS:GO roster from the country. Kazakhstan also held national teams in CS:GO during the World Championships until 2016.
Esports Insider says: This will certainly be an exciting time for the emergence of esports in such a large country like Kazakhstan. Members of the Cybersport Federation have been working up to this point since its formation in December and now that it has been achieved and given approval from the government we hope to see further developments of talent and events coming from and in the country.