Kryukov, an Executive Board member of the Kazakh Olympic Committee and member of the International Swimming Federation (FINA)'s ruling Bureau, was speaking here as Almaty - together with rival 2022 applicants Beijing, Krakow, Lviv and Oslo - attend the Olympic Games as official observers.

He admitted there were some things about the country which required improvement but insisted that, considering Kazakhstan has only existed for 24 years, huge steps have already been made. 

"Our GDP (gross domestic product) growth is 6.6 per cent, only China's is higher, and this shows the work we have done, but we are a new country and this is very important," he told insidethegames.

"Yes, there are things which we don't have programmes for and haven't implemented, but we are working towards that.

"The Games will help us because it will show the whole world that we are working."

Andrey Kryukov and other Almaty 2022 figures face the press at Sochi 2014 ©ITG


Given the criticism of human rights in Russia ahead of Sochi 2014 and the protests engulfing Ukraine which are so harming the prospects of Lviv 2022, this is an important area for Almaty to address if their bid is to be successful - particularly as there have been several critical human rights reports published about the country in recent years.

But Kryukov insisted that, with the population divided between Muslims and Christians and consisting of 125 different nationalities, they learn every day how to be tolerant, adding there is no civil unrest. 

He also played down the nature of last week's protests against the Government's devaluation of the currency - which included up to 200 people gathering in Almaty to demonstrate against the decision - as something which was nothing to worry about.

"We're a democratic country and people talk to the Government and go to the streets, it's normal," he said. 

Kryukov highlighted the enthusiasm for hosting the Games among both the people and the Government before praising existing facilities, including the Medeo skating rink and a ski jumping complex built in 2010 which has already hosted many international events. 

"We have a beautiful mountain town, we have hard-working and sport-loving people, we have real winter, we have a great sports history, we have the desire and opportunity, and what we're missing is the Games," he added. 

"We need the Games."

Sochi 2014 medal winning figure skater Denis Ten will form part of the Almaty 2022 bid team ©Sports Illustrated/Getty Images


Among those speaking alongside Kryukov was Kazakhstan's Sochi 2014 figure skating medal winner Denis Ten, who described the Olympic Games as a "unique competition which would be made an unforgettable event for a whole generation" if held on home turf. 

Also present was Tastanbek Yessentayev, chairman of Kazakhstan's agency for physical culture and sport, who re-emphasised how the bid is supported by "our people, our President and our Government".

Although exact figures about cost were not given, he, as well as Kryukov, also suggested it would be a lot lower a figure than for Sochi 2014.

This is partly because about 70 per cent of the facilities are ready now and 98 per cent will be ready by 2017, it claimed.