Husain Al-Musallam with sports leaders in Kazakhstan.

ASTANA, Jan 21: Kazakhstan's Minister of Sports and Tourism, Yerbol Mirza Boyunsev, welcomed Captain Husain Al-Musallam, President of the International Aquatics Federation (FINA) and Director General of the Olympic Council of Asia, during a meeting held in the capital, Astana.

Dmitry Balandin, former Olympic swimmer and Vice President of the Olympic Committee and Kazakhstan Swimming Federation, and Ali Mazan Akyaev, Secretary of the Kazakh Olympic Committee, attended the discussion.

Key topics focused on the advancement of swimming in Kazakhstan, including potential plans to host world swimming championships in alignment with the international calendar.

Another significant initiative addressed was a proposal to collaborate with the Ministry of Sports and Education to introduce swimming education programs in kindergartens and primary schools. This plan aims to allocate one hour of swimming training per week for children, divided into 30-minute sessions, with guidance from trainers accredited by the International Aquatics Federation.

Additionally, the meeting explored Kazakhstan's prospects of hosting Asian swimming tournaments by the Asian calendar.