In a special ceremony held on Wednesday, Mr. Al Musallam accepted the Order in honour of significant contributions towards strengthening friendship, international cooperation and advancing relations.

Recipients of the Order include former heads of government, as well as leading figures from international organisations and prominent sports federations.

The honour comes as Astana prepares to host its first ever World Aquatics Swimming World Cup event, where the Barys Arena will host some of the world’s fastest swimmers from 15-17 October, marking a significant milestone in the development of aquatic sports in the country.

Reflecting on the award, President Al Musallam said, “It is a privilege to receive this prestigious award from His Excellency Mr Tokayev and on behalf the people of Kazakhstan.

“We are thrilled to bring one of our pinnacle competitions - the Swimming World Cup - to Astana this week as part of its journey along the historic Silk Road, in a clear signal of our ambition to grow aquatic sports in all corners of the world.
By President Husain Al Musallam

“The competition has so far delivered high-quality entertainment and unforgettable drama. We are confident that this will continue over the next three days in Astana, and leave a lasting legacy that will inspire future generations of swimmers across Kazakhstan.”