2011 WU Update: FISU Commemorates Victims of Moscow Bombing

ERZURUM – Members of the Russian delegation at the 25th Winter Universiade escaped the devastating suicide bombing at Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport yesterday, January 24th on their way to Erzurum. Nevertheless, the delegation is shaken and the support our Russian friends, FISU 1st Vice-President Claude-Louis Gallien spoke some words of comfort at the Russian flag raising ceremony at the Athletes’ Village today.

Russian HoD Oleg Matytsin & FISU 1st VP Gallien

‘Dear Friends from the Russian Federation,

On behalf of the FISU President and my colleagues of the FISU Family, I would like to tell you that it is with a great emotion that we are here today for this very particular ceremony.

I would like to convey our sincerest condolences to the athletes, officials, representatives of the National University Sport Federation of the Russian Federation, to the 2013 Kazan Universiade Organizing Committee and also to the all the Russian students, having in our hart the fact that today is the Russian students national day.

When facing situations such as the tragedy that happened yesterday in Moscow, words are poor and not really helpful.

However, one of the aims of the Universiade is to develop the message of friendship that needs to be strengthened by all of us on a daily basis.

Dear Russian Friends, be sure that, all along this Winter Universiade in Erzurum, we will have very special thoughts when watching each of you compete.

All my sympathy is with all of you, my Friends.’

C. Pierre, FISU Press Officer

Slovenian delegation