TURKISH COMPANY BUILDS KAZAKH STADIUM
ASTANA - A Turkish company has constructed a stadium in the Kazakh capital of Astana.
Turkey's Sembol Insaat (construction company) built the "Astana Arena Stadium" in Astana, Kazakhstan which cost 185 million USD.
The stadium with a retractable roof panel will have a capacity to host 30,000 spectators. The construction began in 2006.
Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev inaugurated the stadium on Saturday.
The stadium is equipped with television networks with satellite antennas, broadcasting, and sound reinforcement with simultaneous translation in meeting halls, press-conference halls, display panel, and helicopter ground. The stands are located at two levels: 16,000 seats – at the lower and 14,000 – at the upper. VIP-zone is located between them in the western part of the stadium.
Besides Nazarbayev, Fettah Tamince, the chairman of the Rixos Hotels Executive Board and Sembol Insaat's founder; Kazakh ministers and lawmakers; Turkish Football Federation's Executive Board member Levent Kizil; Turkish national team coach Fatih Terim; and Turkish footballers Hakan Sukur and Hasan Sas participated in the inauguration ceremony.
After the ceremony, Kazakhistan's Locomotive Astana and Kazakh junior national team played a friendly match which was officiated by Italian referee Pierluigi Collina.
Hakan Sukur and Hasan Sas played for the Locomotive Astana team in the friendly match.
The Locomotive Astana defeated the junior national team 5-2.
