A unique exhibition by two
photographers from Kazakhstan and France has opened on the Astana embankment.
Dedicated to the upcoming Paralympic Games in Paris, it features nearly 50 photographs
portraying champions in various Paralympic sports. Notably, some of these
athletes will represent Kazakhstan in the quadrennial competition in the French
capital scheduled from August 28 to September 8.
«The exhibition is a joint
project by French photographer Didier Echelard and Kazakh photographer Ospan
Ali, showcasing two galleries of portraits of Paralympic athletes. Around 4,500
Paralympians will gather in Paris to compete across 22 sports disciplines. This
exhibition is part of our cultural events program held throughout the year.
This year, while we have focused on the Olympic Games, we are also hosting
various other events,» said French Ambassador to Kazakhstan Didier Canesse.
Notably, Kazakhstan has secured
21 licenses for the Paris Paralympics. Kazakh female para-canoeist Zhanyl
Baltabayeva earned one following her successful performance at the Paracanoe
World Championships in Hungary. Currently, the athlete is actively preparing
for the upcoming competition.
«First of all, I believe in the
support of my coach, I believe in myself, and I think everything will go well.
I’ve just returned from Poland, where the weather was suitably windy. I trained
there for 30-40 days, and up until the trip to Paris, I will continue to be at training
camps in Poland,» said Zhanyl Baltabayeva, the bronze medalist of the Hangzhou
2022 Asian Para Games.
The photo exhibition, organized
with the support of the Kazakh Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the French
Embassy in Kazakhstan, is open to all guests and residents of Astana until
August 14th.
