kazakhstan quiz winner!In an email last week to the Astana Cycling Team, Kazakhstan's Vice Minister of Transport commented on how challenging this quiz was! But Team Astana fans rose to the challenge!! It was great to see how many people sent in correct answers. The majority of emails had 13 or 14 (out of 15) answers correct!! In the end, the first person to send in 15 correct answers was Debbie S. Congrats to Debbie, who will receive an Alberto Contador signed Maglia Rosa!! The answers and some additional information are located below. There'll be more of these Kazakhstan contests so keep educating yourself about this fascinating country and be sure to check back soon!! * Name the National Hockey League goalie from Kazakhstan and his current team? ANSWER: Evgeni Nabokov (San Jose Sharks) - born July 25, 1975. Nabokov is regarded as one of the top goaltenders in the NHL, holding many San Jose Sharks goaltending records, including games played, wins, and shut-outs.
* Name the famous British architect who has designed numerous buildings in Astana, including the Palace of Peace & Accord? ANSWER: Norman Foster designed one of Kazakhstan’s most prominent structures. In addition to representing the world’s religious faiths, the Palace houses a 1,500-seat opera house, educational facilities, and a national centre for Kazakhstan’s various ethnic and geographical groups. This programmatic diversity is unified within the pure form of a pyramid, 62 metres high with a 62 x 62-metre base. Foster was Knighted in 1990 and has been awarded numerous prestigious awards for his outstanding architectural designs throughout the world.
* A Kazakh nomad lives in a tent made from a framework of willow wood and covered in felt, with a hole in the top to allow smoke to escape. When correctly constructed this structure enables its inhabitants to stay cool in summer and warm in winter. What is this structure called? ANSWER: Yurt. The wooden lattice crown of the yurt (shangrak) is itself emblematic in many Central Asian cultures. In old Kazakh communities, the yurt itself would often be repaired and rebuilt, but the shangrak would remain intact, passed from father to son upon the father's death. A family's length of heritage could be measured by the accumulation of stains on the shangrak from generations of smoke passing through it.
* What is the month and date of Kazakhstan People Unity’s Day? ANSWER: May 1 - In the Soviet times the first of May was celebrated as the international day of solidarity of working people. It was remarkable due to the abundance of political slogans and speeches made during parades. The new political system in Kazakhstan altered the original meaning of this holiday. Thus, in 1996 the President of Kazakhstan issued a decree that declared the first of May to be the day of unity of people in Kazakhstan. This is a very important and symbolic festival for such a multiethnic country as Kazakhstan. * What is the month and date that the Kazakhs celebrate their independence? ANSWER: December 16. Kazakhstan will celebrate it’s 17th year of independence this year. A day filled with parades, festivals and fireworks. * How many total medals did Kazakhstan win at the 2008 Beijing Olympics? ANSWER: 13 1 Silver, 4 Bronze in Wrestling * In what year will Kazakhstan host the Winter Asian Games? ANSWER: 2011 – The 7th Winter Asian Games will be held in the city and surrounding regions of Almaty. * Kazakhstan is building a spectacular and unique, fully-functioning indoor city for 10,000 inhabitants, which will regulate temperature and accommodate schools, hospitals, shops, sports and concert halls. Cars will be prohibited from entering, but canals and water transport will be used. What is this indoor city project called? ANSWER: Khan Shatyry ("Royal Marquee") is a giant transparent tent currently under construction in Astana, capital city of Kazakhstan. The architectural project was unveiled by the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev on 9 December 2006. The 150m-high (500ft) tent has a 200m elliptical base covering 100,000 square meters. Underneath the tent, an area larger than 10 football stadiums, will be an urban-scale internal park, shopping and entertainment venue with squares and cobbled streets, a boating river, shopping centre, minigolf and indoor beach resort. The transparent material allows sunlight through which, in conjunction with air heating and cooling systems maintain an internal temperature between 15-30°C in the main space and 19-24°C in the retail units, while outside the temperature varies between -35 to +35°C across the year. After the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation (2006), this will be the second project designed by UK architect Norman Foster.
* What is the name of the highest peak in the Tian Shan Mountains? ANSWER: Pobeda Peak, also known Jengish Chokusu, which means “Victory Peak” has an elevation of 7,439 m / 24,406 ft.
* Name the main park in Almaty? Also named after 28 guardsmen of this Division, who died defending Moscow against German tanks during the WW II? ANSWER: Panfilov Park. The Panfilov Park is named after the 28th Panfilov Battalion that served with distinction during the defense of Moscow in 1941/1942. In addition to a massive soviet style war memorial in rememberance of the Paniflov battalion and the others that died during the second world war, an orthodox cathedral is also located in the park.
* Name the first 5-star hotel to be opened in the new capital, Astana? ANSWER: Okan InterContinental Astana – a popular place of lodging for both business and vacation travelers.
* Name the person who is said to be the founder modern Kazakh literature? ANSWER: Abay Kunanbaev (1845-1904), a 19th century poet and writer who translated Russian works into the Kazakh language. His main contribution to Kazakh culture and folklore is his poetry, which expresses strong nationalism and grew out of Kazakh folk culture. His most famous philosophic work, "Words of edification", is said to be a spiritual commandment to the Kazakh nation. ANSWER: Tulpan – winner of the Un Certain Regard prize, which awards young talent and encourages innovative and audacious works by presenting one of the films with a grant to aid its distribution in France. Synopsis: After completing his naval service, young Asa travels back to the Kazakh steppe where his sister and her shepherd husband live a nomadic life. To start his new life, eager Asa must get married first before he can become a shepherd himself. Asa's only hope for marriage on the deserted steppe is Tulpan, the daughter of another shepherd family. Poor Asa is disappointed to learn that Tulpan doesn't like him because she thinks that his ears are too big. But Asa doesn't give up and he continues to dream of a life that may not be possible on the steppe ... * What industrial city in Kazakhstan produces the largest amount of lead? ANSWER: Chimkent (Shymkent) is the third most populous city in Kazakhstan and has numerous lead production facilities. * What is the title of latest book by President Nazarbayev, currently available in Germany, Austria and Switzerland? ANSWER: The Kazakhstan Way - The book has nine chapters, each devoted to different stages of independent Kazakhstan, including the preparation of Development Strategy 2030, the process of adoption of the Constitution, the discovery of hydrocarbon resources, the introduction of national currency, tenge, and the creation of the bank system”. Special attention was paid to Astana in a chapter called “New capital of a new era”
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