2013 SU Update: Kazan Universiade will consist of 27 Sports with 13,000 Athletes taking Part

KAZAN – The 2013 Summer Universiade in Kazan will consist of 27 sports with 13,000 athletes participating. This was announced in the capital of Tatarstan by the FISU 1st Vic- President and President of the Russian Student Sports Union Oleg Matytsin at the FISU Debriefing ‘Universiade: from Shenzhen to Kazan’ in Kazan.

Oleg Matytsin announced that the 27th World University Summer Games inKazanwould consist of the record number of 27 sports (comparing to24 inChina). “The program of the 2013 Summer Universiade should not be doubted. Even though many federations still express their interest and would like their sports to be included in the program”, pointed out the 1st Vice President ofFISU. “I do not think that any changes will be made to reduce or to increase the number of sports. This is connected with the construction of sport venues as well as human resources.”

Let us remind that the program of the Summer Universiade consists of 13 compulsory sports:track and field athletics, football, basketball, artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, fencing, swimming, water polo, tennis, table tennis, volleyball, diving and judo. Optional sports can be added by organizers of the Universiade.Kazan proposed a record number of additional disciplines:13 of them were confirmed. They are the ones which are the most popular and developed inRussiaand Tatarstan:boxing, shooting and trap shooting, synchronous swimming, rowing, boating and canoeing, sambo, belt wrestling, chess, weightlifting, rugby 7, field hockey, badminton and beach volleyball. In January 2011 the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles (FILA) proposed to include Greco-Roman wrestling and freestyle wrestling (including women’s). As a result two wrestling disciplines, Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling, were confirmed to be included into the program of the 2013 Summer Universiade. Thus, the FISU Executive Committee confirmed 27 sports for the 2013 Summer Universiade.

During the 2013 SU a record number of medal events will be held – 348. The Universiade in Kaza nwill become the largest in the history of the FISU Games.

“I think that no less than 13,000 athletes will take part in the Games. It depends on the interest expressed by the participating countries,” pointed out Oleg Matytsin. “Kazan benefits from its geographic location – it is situated between Asia and Europe. A good transportation system offered by Russia and Kazanwill provide a maximum number of athletes, coaches and officials. It will undoubtfully attract mass media attention. We will provide a professional signal and many channels will be interested in getting the images.”

Oleg Matytsin admitted that one of the challengesRussiafaced was a low spectator turnout for sports events. “Very comfortable conditions for the audience should be created. It can be either a ticket system, or ways to attract the audience from all over the world. I hope that the work that is being done by the Kazan 2013 Organizing Committee to popularize the competitions and cooperate with students all over Russia will be fruitful.”

(Source: Tatar Inform Information Agency & Media Department of Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate)

 Oleg Matytsin