Alumni/ February 26, 2025/

Dreamer from Kazakhstan

Please introduce yourself briefly.
I’m Olzhas Togizbayev from Kazakhstan, a 9th batch DTM student.

What did you do before DTM, and what did you pursue after the DTM Program?
Before DTM, I worked as a senior manager in the Sports Medicine and Anti-Doping Department of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Kazakhstan, overseeing sports medicine specialists, organizing conferences, and collaborating with the IOC.

After DTM, I transitioned to NOC Kazakhstan’s Sports Department, which works closely with the IOC, OCA, national federations, and government organizations in preparing for multi-sport events like the Olympic and Asian Games. The DTM program opened doors for me to shift from sports medicine to sports management, emphasizing the role of education in sports development. Since graduating, I’ve been part of Kazakhstan’s delegation at Gangwon 2024, Paris 2024, and Harbin 2025.

How was your trip to Korea and the roundtable?
Thanks to the DTM office, I participated in the KSPO-Dream Together Master’s Program, where I met fellow alumni and discussed how DTM has evolved over the years. The program provided valuable insights into Korea’s sports development.

At the roundtable at SNU, I shared my career journey and how DTM helped me apply my knowledge in Kazakhstan. It was an honor to speak in front of current students. If someone had told me back then that I would return to SNU as a speaker, I wouldn’t have believed it. That’s why this program is called DREAM Together—if you have a dream and act on it, anything is possible.

What brought you to Korea earlier in 2024?
In January 2024, I was honored to be part of Kazakhstan’s delegation at Gangwon 2024, my first multi-sport event experience. Thanks to my DTM education, I was selected for this opportunity. During the Games, I reconnected with DTM classmates and met current students volunteering there. Visiting the PyeongChang 2018 facilities during DTM was incredibly helpful in navigating the Games. It was an unforgettable experience.

What are some future plans or achievements you would like to share?
I’m currently enrolled in the IOC Certificate: Safeguarding Officer in Sport program, the first participant from Kazakhstan. After completing it, I plan to develop a safeguarding policy for NOC Kazakhstan and conduct educational seminars for national federations.
We’re also collaborating with UNESCO on the Fit4Life project, training over 600 physical education teachers across Kazakhstan. This year, we aim to expand the initiative.
Additionally, NOC Kazakhstan nominated me for the 18th International Session for NOAs and NOCs Delegates in May 2025 in Athens. This platform fosters dialogue and collaboration on Olympic education. I hope to be selected and contribute to promoting Olympism.
We also look forward to establishing collaboration between SNU and NOC Kazakhstan to advance sports science and education in Kazakhstan.

What was the most memorable part of being a DTM student?
Professor Yukio Kim once said, “In SNU, the weekdays go: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Friday, Friday, and then Monday again.” He was right! The sooner you embrace this, the easier your studies will be.
Some of my best memories are working on assignments with classmates in the DTM classroom and coffee shops. Those moments of teamwork and late-night study sessions are unforgettable.

As a graduate, is there anything you would like to share through the newsletter?
My advice to DTM students: Study hard, learn as much as possible while in Korea, and build strong connections—networking is everything. All the hard work and sleepless nights will pay off in the future. I’m living proof of it!

By DTM Office