The Kazakhstan National Olympic Committee is holding a relay involving different sports across the country to mark Olympic Day so that as many people in the country can participate.

The celebrations are due to culminate on June 23 - Olympic Day - in the capital Nur-Sultan.

The country-wide relay began with athletics, in East Kazakhstan, in honour of one of the country’s most famous athletes, Olga Rypakova, hails from this region.

Rypakova won the Olympic gold medal in the triple jump at London 2012 and is a four-time Asian Games gold medallist.

She took part in athletic events involving more than 60 young children at the Olga Rypakova Athletics Arena on Friday.

“Despite the children being young, their goals are clear in that they have an Olympic spirit and a strong desire to win,” Rypakova said.

“I am convinced that, with this same enthusiasm and confidence, they will have a bright future.”

All the children were awarded certificates for participation in Olympic Day, signed by the International Olympic Committee President, Thomas Bach, and Timur Kulibayev, head of the Kazakhstan NOC,

The next stop for the holiday relay is due to be northern region of the country on Saturday (June 19) with cycling being the main feature.

Alexander Vinokourov, the London 2012 men’s road race gold medallist after returning from a two-year doping ban, will be the featured athlete.

Sports climbing will be held on Sunday, (June 20) in the southern capital Almaty before the relay moves on to Aktau in the western region on June 21 with boxing and judo being the sports featured.

The climax in Nur-Sultan on June 23 will be held at the Triathlon Park with basketball and canoeing on the cards of sports.

In addition, according to tradition, the NOC and athletes from all over the country will congratulate babies born on June 23 and give them gifts and letters of good wishes.