Madrid, Aug 10 (EFE) (Image: Nacho Martin). - The Kostanay Orphanigic Team from Kazakhstan, made up of orphaned children aged 8-15 years old, traveled to Madrid on Wednesday and visited the sports facilities of Primera Liga team Atletico Madrid as a reward for having won their national orphanage league.

"It's more a social project than just a football team," said Benkur Kissikov, president of the Baurzhan foundation responsible for the project.

"Our organization aims to improve the level of football in Kazakhstan as well as promoting adoption in our community, which does not pay much attention to this issue," Kissikov said.

The organization led by Kissikov enjoys the approval of the Ambassador of Kazakhstan in Spain, Bakyt Dyussenbayev, who said he was "delighted" to receive the youngsters and treat them to lunch.

"We love being part of such projects," said Dyussenbayev, who shared football anecdotes with the youths.

The visit also had the support of the Atletico Madrid Foundation.

Atletico, that seeks to promote sporting values ??as well as supporting international cooperation, had invited the young athletes to attend the club's morning training at its Wanda sports ground in the suburb of Majadahonda.

Atletico's professional football players agreed to have their photographs taken with the youths.

Later, the Kazakh youngsters toured Atletico's Vicente Calderon stadium and before visiting their country's embassy in Spain.



SHOTLIST: FOOTAGE OF KAZAKH ORPHANED CHILDREN VISIT TO ATLETICO MADRID FACILITIES AND KAZAKHSTAN'S AMBASSY.



SOUND BITES OF BENKUR KISSIKOV, PRESIDENT OF THE BAURZHAN FOUNDATION.



Key words: spain,kazakhstan,soccer,football,atletico,madrid,children,orphan