2013 SU Update: Conference Participants are lost in Admiration of Kazan’s Sports Infrastructure

KAZAN – Participants of the International Conference ‘Sport. Education. Culture’ headed by the FISU Vice-President Claude-Louis Gallien and Russian Student Sports Union President Oleg Matytsin toured sports venues for the 27th Summer Universiade.

The first venue visited by the FISU EC members and university sports leaders was the Rowing Centre whose construction is nearing the end. First Deputy Director General of the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate Azat Kadyrov gave a review of the venue’s purpose and intended use, mentioning that the Rowing Centre is to become the host venue of several events, namely the All-Russian University Canoe/Kayak Championships and All-Russian University Rowing Championship. He also added that ifKazanwas awarded the right to host the World Aquatics Championship, the site was to become the venue where the open water swimming events would be staged.

After viewing the Rowing Centre and attending university rowing teams’ training sessions, the delegates headed to theTennisAcademywhere they also witnessed children’s tennis drills. «We can see how absorbed they are in the game, we have no doubt that there is next Federer or Nadal among them», the delegates confessed. Later on, the conference participants inspected the Olimp Swimming Pool where they met with young athletes ofKazan. «I’m impressed with the quality and up-to-date situation of the venues you’ve constructed for the Universiade. I’m sincerely happy to see people doing sports in each venue. I see that sport and health has become a new lifestyle ofKazancitizens and it’s great», FISU Vice-President Claude-Louis Gallien shared his thought on what he saw.

The delegates were especially wowed with theUniversiadeVillagethat accommodates over 3,000 students from 36 countries. Universiade Village Mayor Farid Abulganiev took the conference participants on the guided tour of one of the student campus’s buildings where sports managers could see with their own eyes the student living conditions. With great enthusiasm the delegates toured residential and functional facilities and studied the miniature model of the Village. «This year a health Centre and International Media Centre will be constructed on the premises of the student campus. And before the academic year starts, we are to accommodate 6,000 students within a day. It will be a perfect testing of our readiness for the Universiade, since we expect to provide accommodation services to nearly 5,000 people per day. To be ready for all ins and outs, staff members of the Universiade Village and Kazan 2013 volunteers are undertaking regular trainings», Farid Abulganiev remarked.

The Erzurum 2011 OC delegation had a talk with the Universiade Village Mayor and commended the student campus’ infrastructure. «The Village is all set to accommodate athletes and this is really worth respect and admiration. We are glad that we could see everything with our own eyes, there is a thing or two we could learn», the Turkish delegates said. Farid Abdulganiev and Erzurum 2011 OC delegates also discussed catering experience at the Athletes’ Village during the Erzurum Universiade. «We intend to offer to athletes European, Asian, American cuisines, as well as vegetarian dishes and halal food in accordance with Islamic rules», he summed up.

Each and every conference participant was utterly stunned with facilities of theUniversiadeVillageand expressed admiration in the notes left in the Village’s Guest Book.

«I’m impressed with the tempo of the preparations for the Kazan Universiade. Each time I visitKazanI see dramatic changes that are happening in the city. But most of all I’m happy about the fact that most venues are ready for use. And all of the meet the highest international standards», FISU EC member Stavros Douvis stated. For his part, Russian Student Sports Union President Oleg Matytsin drew FISU’s attention to the fact that all specialists involved in functional areas of the preparations for the Universiade were highly skilled and put their heart into work.

After touring the Universiade venues, the conference participants returned to the Korston Hotel and Mall, where the main session kicked off.

(Source: Media Department of Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate)

 FISU EC member & Chair CTI SU Stavros Douvis

FISU EC Member Omar Al Hai with the president of the Swedish MA Johanna S:t Clair Renard