SARANSK – During the celebrations on the occasion of theFISU Flag Relay’s arrival in Saransk, the FISU Flag replica was handed over to the President of theRepublic ofMordovia Nikolay Merkushkin.
«We are witnessing a historical moment in Saransk today. Russia’s winning bid to host the 2013 Summer Universiade in Kazan is of great importance to students of our country. There are two years to go until the Universiade, and Russian regions already live in the atmosphere of the preparations for the Games. I’m positive that the FISU Flag Relay will become the first swallow in a series of bright events which will encourage young people to do sports and become volunteers. Mordovian athletes won seven medals at the previous Universiade in Shenzhen. Mark my words, we will double the number of medals at the Games in Kazan. We have all conditions in our region for implementing this ambitious mission. Due to an active development of sports infrastructure, Mordovia earned the ‘Most Sports-Oriented Region of Russia’ Award at the Russia– Country of Sports forum. In general, each region of our country must make its own contribution to a triumphant victory of Russia at the domestic Universiade», the President of Mordovia said during the festivities dedicated to the FISU Flag’s arrival in Saransk.
«Again and again glorious sporting achievements of Mordovia bring joy to millions of Russians and become a source of nationwide pride», Deputy Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Tatarstan Guzalia Minkina supported the words expressed by the Mordovian President. «I’m confident that a considerable share of medals won at the long-awaited 2013 Summer Universiade will belong to Mordovian athletes», she said with confidence.
After Larisa Sulima, Chief of Staff of the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate, handed the FISU Flag replica to the Mordovian President, a red fox, the symbol of the Republic of Mordovia, was presented to her in return.
Two renowned race walkers of Mordovia, Tatyana Kalmykova and Andrey Krivov, became Kazan 2013 Ambassadors. Credentials were handed by the President of the Republic of Mordovia Nikolay Merkushkin, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Tatarstan Guzalia Minkina and Chief of Staff of the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate Larisa Sulima. It’s quite logical that the Kazan 2013 Ambassador titles were bestowed upon these race walkers, since race walking is a major sport in Mordovia.
«It’s a great honor for me to become a Kazan 2013 Ambassador in my home town, which gave birth to dozens of celebrated champions. I will do my best to be worthy of the title, to represent my home town, republic and the Universiade which were awarded to my country. Despite the fact that I’m first of all engaged in the development of my sports career, the public mission of the Kazan 2013 Ambassador is a very important stage of my life that, I hope, will be useful to students and athletes of Russia,» Tatyana Kalmykova said in her post-ceremony interview.
It stands to mention that unlike most regions, where volunteer training is the main area of partnership with the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate, Mordovia’s priority mission is to train sports reserve for the Russian national team at the 2013 SU inKazan. «It’s surprising how seriously regions of the Volga Federal District took the preparations for the FISU Flag Relay’s welcome events and how seriously they intend to get prepared for the Games in Kazan. In each city where we sign a cooperation agreement with new partners, we become convinced that the FISU Flag Relay is a unique project that will give an impulse to the development of university sports, youth policy and interregional partnership in Russia», Larisa Sulima said.
(Source: Media Department of Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate)
Larisa Sulima with Kazan 2013 Ambassadors Tatyana Kalmykova & Andrey Krivov
Tatyana Kalmykova & Andrey Krivov, Mordovian Kazan 2013 Ambassadors
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