VIII Asian Winter Games opening ceremony to start in Sapporo

SAPPORO. KAZINFORM The official opening ceremony of the VIII Winter Asian Games will kick off in Japanese Sapporo at 04:00 local time, Kazinform correspondent reports,    

Five-time world champion in cross-country skiing Yerdos Akhmadiyev will carry the national flag of Kazakhstan at the ceremony.

116 athletes will compete at the Games in 11 sports for 64 sets of medals.  Kazakhstan will be represented by such world-famous athletes as figure skaters Denis Ten, Elizabeth Turssynbayeva, skaters Roman Krech, Denis Kuzin, Yekaterina Aidova and skier Nikolay Chebotko.