New Asian Winter Games chief appointed

The head of the Asian Winter Games in Almaty has been replaced after officials inspecting sporting facilities last week found them unsatisfactory.

Sultanbek Syzdykov was chosen on Monday to replace Sultanmakhmut Shokbytov, ed who was named the Almaty Directorate of the Asian Games in January 2010 to oversee the construction of sports facilities, the Kazakh daily newspaper Kazakhstan Today (KT) reported.

Shokbytov will continue to work in the directorate, Kazinform.com reported.

The VII Winter Asian Games, to be held in Astana and Almaty, will begin January 30, 2011 with opening ceremonies in Astana.

The new Almaty Directorate must ensure that all the stadiums and athletic facilities for the regional event will be completed on time, KT reported.

Over 10,000 foreign visitors are expected to descend upon Almaty alone during the games, which will last until February 6, 2011. The total budget for the 2011 Asian Winter Games is anticipated to exceed $1 billion.

Kazakhstan was chosen in 2008 by the Olympic Council of Asia, which organizes the games, to host the 2011 event.