2011 SU Update: ‘Russian House’ showcases Next Summer Universiade Host

Arkadiy Karbayev, Director Social Event Department flanked by two of Kazan’s chefs

SHENZHEN – The Republic of Tatarstan and Kazan are prepared for its big challenge. All arrangements are just in time. At the Russian House, the Executive Committee of the 27th Summer Universiade 2013 would like to present the next host, which isKazan. Arkadiy Karbayev, Director of the Social Event Department elaborated on the organization, expectations and the tradition of the Russian House, which started inBelgrade for the 2009 SU. ‘The interesting fact is that in the Russian House we showcase Kazan.Kazan is not so popular among the Russian cities’, Karbayev explains. ‘I mean, it is notMoscow, it’s notSt. Petersburg. But, last year Kazan was named like the third capital of Russia, that’s why we want to promote it.’

The Russian delegation is one of the biggest here in Shenzhen. But the Russians did not bring only athletes. ‘We also brought staff of the Kazan OC to observe these Games’, Karbayev continues. ‘We want to see how it works from the inside. That’s why we took along so many people to Shenzhen. We want to see how it works and we will have similar high standard Games in Kazan. But we will add are own touch to the Universiade of course.’Kazan is also right on track with the volunteers’ program. ’We have many volunteers’ projects running in Kazan. It started in 2009 when 150 volunteers went toBelgrade. Since that time we always tried to find new people and we are getting more and more popular.’ Karbayev expects to have some 20,000 people volunteering for the 2013 Universiade in Kazan.’

The Russian House is definitely a big hit with the Universiade crowd. ‘We start every day at 7:30 pm’, Karbayev further explains. ‘We also have dedicated parties. There are singers and actors performing. We brought along two Russian chefs. So we can offer Russian cuisine. And these chefs are the best inKazan. Of course we cannot forget the Chinese cuisine. We offer it too at the Russian House.’ Every night the House welcomes some 200 guests. In the first three days they had delegates from 19 countries. Even the delegations of India, Afghanistan and Libya booked a table for dinning. ‘Everybody wants to come and everybody is so excited. They are curious what we have to show them. The Russian House is open for everybody.   

The Russian House is truly a host for everybody at the 26th Summer Universiade’, Karbayev concludes.

In a nutshell, the Russian delegation is happy to welcome every nation in their ‘House’ for tasting Russian cuisine, drinking original Kazan vodka and celebrating all night long traditional Russian style.  

(Source: Nicole Torregrossa, FISU-AIPS Young Reporter/Germany)

Traditional music at the Russian House