Kazakh National University of Sports Opens New Astana Campus

Kazakhstan has officially inaugurated the Kazakh National University of Sports (KNUS) and its new campus in the capital, Astana. This marks the culmination of a five-year project to establish a premier regional hub for sports education, research, and innovation.

The opening ceremony served as the focal point for the international forum "New Era of Sport: KNUS 2026." The event convened government officials, international sports federation representatives, and members of the Olympic movement. Notable attendees included Kazakhstan's Deputy Minister of Tourism and Sports Serik Zharasbayev, United World Wrestling President Nenad Lalovic, International Esports Federation President Vlad Marinescu, and a representative from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov visited the new university, emphasizing its strategic importance in cultivating future sports professionals and advancing sports science, artificial intelligence, rehabilitation, and international academic partnerships. The university's five-year transformation involved expanding international collaborations, enhancing research capabilities, and developing a modern ecosystem for training specialists across elite and mass sports, sports medicine, and sports management.

KNUS founder Nurasyl Medeu stated the institution's creation addresses the evolving demands of the sports sector. It aims to educate a new generation of coaches, researchers, sports physicians, teachers, and managers equipped for international competition. During the ceremony, Lalovic and Marinescu received honorary professorships, and students signed the university charter, pledging commitment to academic integrity and sports ethics. Visitors toured the university's advanced facilities, including research labs, innovation hubs, and digital infrastructure, designed to support athlete development and scientific inquiry.

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The institution was established to address the evolving needs of the sports sector and to educate a new generation of coaches, researchers, sports physicians, teachers and managers capable of competing at the highest international level.