2013 SU Update: Moscow State University partners with Team 2013

MOSCOW – The oldest alma mater ofRussia, Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU), became a partner of theKazan 2013 Excutive Directorate today. The corresponding agreement was signed by Rector of Russia’s largest university Victor Sadovnichy and Director General of the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate Vladimir Leonov.

The agreement signing ceremony observed the attendance of Natalia Parshikova, State Secretary and Deputy Minister of Sports, Tourism and Youth Policy of the Russian Federation; Vladimir Taimazov, 1st Vice President of the Russian Student Sports Union and member of the Physical Culture and Sports Council under the President of Russia; Boris Mendelevich, Head of the Department of Health, Sports and Healthy Lifestyle of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Tatarstan; Andrey Kondratyev, Deputy Minister of Youth, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Tatarstan; Vladimir Ziskind, Advisor to the Chairman of the Moscow Bank of Sberbank of Russia, and delegates of the FISU Flag Relay.

After extending his warm welcome to the guests, MSU Rector Victor Sadovnichy mentioned that «university sport is closely associated with beauty, strength and youth energy; it embodies the standard of achievements. The FISU Flag Relay implemented by the host city of the Summer Universiade represents an amazing initiative thanks to which a new impetus will be given to university sports development in Russia. As of today over 2,000 students of Moscow State University are doing professional sports, our hall of fame boasts numerous victories earned by students and graduates of Moscow State University. Today one of our most celebrated alumni, triple Olympic champion in synchronized swimming Maria Kiseleva is appointed a Kazan 2013 Ambassador.»

Apart from Maria Kiseleva, who takes active part in implementation of large sports projects in Russia (she helped in Kazan’s bid for the 2015 FINA World Championships), credentials were also handed to Alexander Kondratichev, a student of Moscow State University and  triple winner of the Summer Universiade in Shenzhen.

«We are pleased that today we’ve signed a cooperation agreement with the 39th higher education institution ofRussia. Team 2013 is also proud to see two new ambassadors among its ranks. They will assist the Games 2013 Organizing Committee in the preparations and staging of the best Universiade ever. At the same time, it’s no coincidence that we are completing one of the most significant stages of the FISU Flag Relay in the largest university of Russia, because it is students, young, happy, sports-loving and creative, that are main heroes of the grand event, which is returning back to Russia after a 40 year gap. The main thing is we have to be together and be best!», Vladimir Leonov said in return.

After the agreement was signed, the FISU Flag replica handover ceremony took place in the assembly hall of the Lomonosov Moscow State University, followed by the concert delivered by laureates of the UNI-elite project.

(Source: Media Department of Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate)