Bauyrzhan Baibek, the Mayor of Almaty, has purchased the first ticket for the 2017 Winter Universiade after they officially went on sale this week ©FISU

Almaty's Mayor Bauyrzhan Baibek has purchased the first ticket for the 2017 Winter Universiade after they officially went on sale this week.

The former capital city of Kazakhstan is set to host the multi-sport winter event that is due to begins on January 28 next year.

The public can now secure their entry to the Universiade at a number of venues across the city including the Baluan Sholak Sports Palace.

Tickets are available for competitions such as Alpine skiing, biathlon, curling, Nordic combined and ice hockey among others.

Prices range from KZT 300 (£0.75/$0.90/€0.80) to KZT 3,500 (£8.75/$10.50/€9.50).

The organisers have estimated that the sales of tickets for the event, due to finish on February 8, could reach around KZT 200 million (£493,000/$600,000/€547,000).

Almaty held a celebration at the Medeu Ice Rink to mark the 100 days anniversary before the start of the Winter Universiade in the city on January 28 next year ©FISU
Almaty held a celebration at the Medeu Ice Rink to mark the 100 days anniversary before the start of the Winter Universiade in the city on January 28 next year ©FISU

The city also held a celebration at the Medeu Ice Rink to mark the 100 day anniversary which the mayor also attended.

The event was organised by Almaty 2017. 

As part of the event, certificates were awarded to the competitions ambassadors.

Cyclist Dmitriy Petrukhin, circus artist Murat Muturganov and famous director, actor and screenwriter Nurtas Adambayev all received the honours.

The Medeu Ice Rink is located 1,691 metres above sea level making it the highest located complex in the world designed for winter sports.

With a capacity of 8,100 seats, it is due to be the venue for speed skating during the event.