2013 SU Update: 20,000 Students attend Kazan 2013 Presentation in Saint Petersburg

SAINT PETERSBURG – A spectacular show on the occasion of Freshers’ Day which was held within the FISU Flag Relay’s stay inSaint Petersburg took place in the Peterburgsky Sports and Culture Complex.

The event brought together more than 20,000 fresher students in one of the largest concert venues of the Northern Capital. The luckiest of them demonstrated their talents on stage; the brilliant concert program of Freshers’ Day included best performers and creative bands of Saint Petersburg, such as InzhEkon‘s beat boxer Egor Sesarev, JTD vocal trio, Radi Slavi (‘for the sake of glory’) group and other winners of the ART-studio and Rock-Immunity Talent Shows.

At the very height of the concert, Vice Governor of Saint Peterburg Vasily Kichedzhi, Chairman of Rector Council of Saint Petersburg Vladimir Vasilyev and Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Russia Sergey Ivanovets appeared on stage. «Saint Petersburgis known for fine traditions of its higher education institutions that train excellent specialists always in demand all overRussia. I sincerely congratulate you on joining our huge and friendly student family», Vasily Kichedzhi said in his greeting to new students.

Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Russia Sergey Ivanovets wished freshers to strive to improve and perfect themselves and reach amazing heights in education, sports and culture. Together with 20,000 students, the officials took the freshers’ oath, following which the presentation of the 27th Summer Universiade was delivered for the audience.

«Thank you for affording us the honor to attend such an awesome occasion in your awesome city. Students of your city earned 9 gold, 25 silver and 9 bronze medals at the previous World University Summer Games in Shenzhen. We have large sports projects ahead of us, 2013 Summer Universiade, FINA World Championships, championships in athletics, ice hockey and football. With your help, with your mind-blowing drive we will be able to prove to the world thatRussiais a major country of sports!,» Vladimir Leonov said in his welcome speech to the freshers.

Vladimir Leonov handed credentials to Polina Nikitina, an archery champion of the 2011 Summer Universiade in Shenzhen, who was appointed a Kazan 2013 Ambassador in Saint Petersburg. After promising to popularize university sports, healthy lifestyle and ideas of the 27th World University Summer Games, the newly-minted Kazan 2013 Ambassador was presented a precious metal coin from Valery Bulykin, Deputy Chairman of the North-West Branch of Sberbank of Russia.

Afterwards, Tatarstan Student League President Timur Suleimanov carried in the FISU Flag replica for a solemn handover ceremony. The flag was passed to Alexander Nikolaev, Chairman of the Saint Petersburg Committee of Youth Policy and Cooperation with Public Organisations, and Kazan 2013 Ambassador Alina Nikitina.

The concert culminated in a gig featuring winners of the UNI-elite project, namely the F-team and U13 dance projects,Kazanfolk group, beatboxer Mitya Burmistrov, Almaz Akhmetzyanov accordion player, Edgar Akopyan violinist, Vera formation dance champions and Murakami rock band.

It should be noted that the performance delivered by Kazan’s creative bands was warmly met by a crowd of 20,000 students of Saint Petersburg, that kept chanting ‘Russia!Kazan! Universiade!’ throughout the whole concert.

(Source: Media Department of Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate)

Polina Nikitina, another Kazan 2013 Ambassador