A Sports Complex for Children in a Prominent Oil City

Oil is produced in Zhanaozen and large industrial enterprises operate there, yet the shortage of social infrastructure is acutely felt. Mangystau Region ranks among the leaders in birth rates, with a large number of children and teenagers, but Zhanaozen lacks sufficient quality facilities for sports activities. Formally, the city has sports facilities, but many of them are outdated and unable to cope with the demand. Courtyard playgrounds are designed mainly for small children, while teenagers are forced to train wherever possible. Since 2022, the Halyk Charitable Foundation of Timur Kulibayev has begun to change this situation. The correspondent visited the construction site and spoke with local residents.

This is what the physical culture and wellness complex in Zhanaozen will look like after construction is completed in 2026.

First, the foundation studied the city’s needs and decided to focus on complex problems: water shortages, children’s leisure activities, and the lack of jobs. In 2022, 16 children’s playgrounds with workout zones and mini-football fields were built. In 2023, the foundation signed a memorandum with the regional akimat on a large-scale development program that included the construction of playgrounds, a sports complex, and other facilities. By the city’s 55th anniversary, another 46 sports grounds were added, bringing the total to 52 active recreation sites. The next stage was the construction of a full-scale physical culture and wellness complex.

The project cost is 1.4 billion tenge, with an implementation period of one year. The opening is planned for Children’s Day in 2026. The sports complex is part of Halyk Foundation’s large-scale development program for Mangystau Region. Forty workers and 13 units of equipment are involved in the construction. The complex will become accessible for sports activities and serve as a base for the development of mass sports and the “Auyl Sport” program, which allows rural children to participate in competitions.

At the request of the akimat, a mini-hotel is included in the complex to accommodate children from other cities who come for competitions. The size of the main hall has been increased to meet international standards, allowing high-level futsal tournaments to be held. Residents already familiar with the foundation’s work on playgrounds actively voiced which sports should be represented. All suggestions were taken into account during the design phase. The facility will be not only functional but also visually appealing.

“Currently, masonry work is underway at the site and concrete is being poured for the flooring,” says site foreman Serik Sakhiev. “The building will be single-story, and we have already reached the mid-level mark. If everything goes according to plan, we expect to complete the current stage after the New Year. Cold weather does not interfere with the work, and construction will continue despite the conditions.”

“I represent Sapa Industrial Services, which provides technical supervision at the site,” says Aslan Chakenov, head of technical supervision. “Our main task is to ensure construction quality, control the materials used, and ensure compliance with design and regulatory requirements. We inspect contractors, accept work based on hidden works acts, and if any issues are identified, they are corrected during the construction process.”

“This physical culture and wellness complex is designed for 111 athletes and 330 spectators. It includes a large universal hall for football and basketball measuring 24 by 42 meters, a freestyle wrestling hall, a boxing hall, a judo hall, a fitness hall, and a separate karate hall. There will also be a buffet. For participants arriving from other cities, three residential rooms for 12 people are предусмотрены, each with its own bathroom and shower. The total area of the complex is 3,076 square meters. The fitness hall will be equipped with modern equipment, including treadmills.”

News about the construction of the sports complex quickly spread throughout the city. Residents of Zhanaozen are welcoming the project with enthusiasm; for many, it is the first opportunity to enroll their children in sports sections near home without spending money on travel across the city.

“We heard that a physical culture and wellness center is being built in Zhanaozen, and this is a great joy for us,” says local resident Mayra Alpamysova. “This is a very important facility for the city’s development, especially for our youth. When the center opens, God willing, we will take our children there. Our city truly lacks such facilities. We are very happy that it is being built and want to thank everyone involved in this project. We hope our children will practice different sports and become future champions of Kazakhstan.”

“A sports complex is being built, and we believe it is truly needed,” says Albina Zhanbirova. “We would like to express our deep gratitude to the Halyk Foundation of Timur Kulibayev for sponsoring and building such a facility for our city. This is a very important and necessary building. Thanks to it, children will have conditions for sports activities and a healthy lifestyle, which is a major contribution to the future of our youth.”

“We are all waiting for the opening of the sports complex, which is planned for June,” says Zhanaozen resident Shynar Nurimanova. “There should be more facilities like this in our city. It is important for children to have opportunities to engage in sports, stay away from bad habits, and maintain their health. Today, there are many myths and negative influences in society, and young people can easily fall under their influence. That is why Zhanaozen urgently needs sports complexes, large swimming pools, and spaces for youth and teenagers.”

A children’s playground built by the Halyk Foundation.

“There are playgrounds for small children, but there are practically no leisure spaces for teenagers and young people under twenty. The city also lacks parks, greenery is very limited, and more trees need to be planted. We also need a rehabilitation center so that people do not have to travel to Aktau every time. I go to a fitness gym, but there are very few, and we would like to see more modern and spacious gyms, especially for women. It is encouraging that society is paying more attention to women and their health.”

Of course, the sports complex does not solve all of the city’s problems, but it is a concrete step that will give thousands of children access to sports, create jobs, and show that private philanthropy can change the quality of life in the regions. The experience of Zhanaozen may become a model for other cities where social infrastructure lags behind economic potential.