YOSHKAR-OLA – The capital of the Republic of Mari El met the delegates of the 27th Summer Universiade with a sunny spring-like weather, youthful ardor and a unique national culture.
In the twelfth city on the route of the FISU Flag Relay, the Kazan 2013 delegates received a cordial welcome from students of the leading higher education institutions of the Republic of Mari El, Minister of Education and Science Galina Shvetsova, 1st Deputy Minister of Physical Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Mari El Sergey Kiverin and Managing Director of the Mari El Branch of Sberbank of Russia Valentin Tsivilsky.
After solemn welcome speeches, the traditional hundredweight of salt and chak-chak, that symbolize solidarity and unity in the preparations for the 2013 World University Summer Games, were handed over to the hosts by Chief of Staff of the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate Larisa Sulima, alongside a Chuvash doll, a present sent to the Republic of Mari El from the Chuvash Republic where the flag relayed the day before.
The motorcade escorted the FISU Flag through downtownYoshkar-Ola, and ended its trip at the historic and architectural complex of the Tsarevokokshaisk Kremlin. A bright performance featuring the best folk bands and psaltery players of the Republic of Mari El awaited the Kazan 2013 delegates there. And a historical reconstruction demonstrating combat traditions of the Mari and Bulgar peoples became a special highlight of the festivities.
Afterwards, the Kazan 2013 delegates headed to the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Mari Elwhere two regional universities, Mari State University and Mari State Polytechnic University, signed a cooperation agreement with the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate.
The key events of the FISU Flag Relay’s programme in Yoshkar-Olatook place inLenin Square where the ‘Universiade in Your City!’ concert, Kazan 2013 Ambassador initiation ceremony and FISU Flag replica handover took place.
(Source: Media Department of Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate)
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