By Oleg Belov
Columnist for Arguments and Facts Kazakhstan
Mountains are a realm of ice, records, and challenges. But they are also a realm of inspiration, where poetry is born. All these dimensions came together in a unique setting — a Kazakh gorge on the slopes of the northern Tien Shan, near Almaty.
It was here, at an altitude of 1,691 meters, that the legendary high-mountain skating rink “Medeu” was built during the Soviet era — an arena that hosted 320 world records. For its outstanding achievements in speed skating, it earned the nickname “the record factory.” In recent years, sporting achievements have given way to cultural milestones. The new feats now happen not on the ice, but on the stairs — 842 steps up the mudflow protection dam, leading even higher, to 1,733 meters above sea level.
On May 30, 2025, the first poetic record in the world was set here. A literary action crowned the stair climb: at each of the ten landings, participants recited poems by outstanding poets from around the world. The ascent was completed by Margarita Al (Russia), President of the World Organization of Writers “WOW,” and Vlada Korolyova (France), a well-known travel blogger. They dedicated their record to the laureates of the WOW Prize — poets whose voices resonate across cultures:
Konstantin Kedrov-Chelyshchev (Russia), Olzhas Suleimenov (Kazakhstan), Varis Yelchiev (Azerbaijan), Tugrul Tanyol (Turkey), Ashraf Dali (Egypt), Wale Okediran (Nigeria – Ghana), Alexandra Ochirova (Russia), Adel Khozam (UAE), Danilo José Urtēcho (Nicaragua), and Mamta Sagar (India).
The event was organized by the World Organization of Writers “WOW” and the Assembly of the Peoples of Eurasia and Africa. The record was officially registered by Anvar Almakhametov, a representative of the World Record Book.
It’s important to highlight that the World Record Book — co-founded by the World Organization of Writers “WOW” in cooperation with the Guinness World Records — holds a special place in the global record community. It pioneers a new humanistic and humanitarian niche, giving voice to culture, linguistic diversity, and literary achievement. This is its uniqueness and relevance.
I had the honor of serving as an independent expert representing the Arguments and Facts Kazakhstan newspaper during the event’s registration. Dozens of unsuspecting tourists who happened to be climbing the stairs became witnesses to history — a poetic record in the making.
As I ascended alongside Margarita and Vlada, listening to poetry with snowy peaks in the background, it felt like traveling across the globe. This staircase was no longer just a path upward — it became a summit of meaning. And who knows, perhaps it was in these very mountains that Joseph Brodsky once conceived the line: “From the height of the glacier, I surveyed half the world.”
As an expert, I confirm: the first poetic record at Medeu has been set. The “record factory” is up and running again — now in the literary realm. Fittingly, the word “step” (or foot) is not only a part of a staircase but also a unit of poetic meter. That means new heights await — new names, and new poems.
