The Presidential Center's museum collection was expanded by the addition of the personal belongings of Kazakhstan skier and Olympic champion Vladimir Smirnov, DKNews.kz reports.
At the Presidential Center of the Department of Presidential Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, a meeting was held with the Kazakh skier, Olympic champion Vladimir Smirnov, during which the famous athlete donated his personal belongings to the museum collection of the Center.
"One of the halls of the museum of the Presidential Center is fully dedicated to the achievements of Kazakhstani athletes during the years of the country's independence. We are very proud that now our museum collection has been enriched with exhibits of such an unsurpassed skier, the first and so far the only winner of the Winter Olympic Games for Kazakhstan Vladimir Mikhaylovich Smirnov. I am sure it will contribute to the popularization of winter sports, and guests and residents of the capital will be glad to have an opportunity to see these items in person" Bakytzhan Temirbolat, Director of the Presidential Center of Kazakhstan
In turn, the famous athlete Vladimir Smirnov thanked all those gathered and noted that the victory at the "white" Olympics, held exactly 30 years was and remains an exciting and significant moment in his life.
He wished the museum of the Presidential Center as many visitors as possible to be inspired by the successes of Kazakhstani athletes and to know the history of their country.
The museum exposition was enriched with:
- training skis and boots of the Olympic champion;
- a commemorative medal, which is awarded to the participants of the national ski competitions for the prizes of the great athlete;
- the book "Vladimir Smirnov - the man-winner".
Note that the donated items are already on display for public viewing in the museum of the Presidential Center at the address: Astana, 1a Bokeykhan str.
Vladimir Smirnov made an invaluable contribution to the development of the Olympic Movement in the Republic of Kazakhstan. In 1994 at the XVII Olympic Winter Games in Lillehammer, he won a gold medal in cross-country skiing (50 km classic style). Thirty years later, this is Kazakhstan's only top award at the Winter Olympics.
The Kazakh skier was born in 1964 in Shchuchinsk, Kokchetav (now Akmola) region of the Kazakh SSR. He started skiing at an early school age. This year, on March 7, Vladimir Smirnov turns 60 years old.
He is a Soviet and Kazakhstani skier, 1994 Olympic champion, four-time world champion, four-time silver and two-time bronze medalist at the Olympic Games, and multiple USSR champion. Former IOC member. Two-time winner of the Grand Crystal Globe (1990/1991, 1993/1994 seasons). One of the strongest skiers in the world in the second half of the 80s and 90s of the 20th century.
From 1980 to 1992 he was a member of the USSR and CIS national teams, from 1992 to 1999 - under the flag of Kazakhstan.
