2013 SU Update: FISU Flag Relay arrives in Bugulma

BUGULMA – On November 4th,Russia’s National Unity Day, the Kazan 2013 delegates reached Bugulma, the 21st city of the FISU Flag Relay.

The presentation of the 27th Summer Universiade gathered students of all higher education and specialized secondary education establishments of Bugulma. Larisa Sulima, Chief of Staff of the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate, talked to students of Bugulma and gave a review of the preparation progress of Tatarstan and Russia for the World University Summer Games in Kazan.

«Each of us must see with their own eyes the unique changes that our republic experiences thanks to hosting the Universiade. The capital of Tatarstan is becoming a modern sports centre of international level, and sports, a healthy way of life and volunteering becomes a lifestyle of Kazan’s youth and citizens», Larisa Sulima said. She also made a short report on the concept of the Universiade Legacy which is «to become an incentive for development of university sports and volunteer movement and to strengthen the health of our fellow citizens».

The meeting ended with a solemn handover ceremony of the FISU Flag replica to Bugulma. Passing the ensign to Tatyana Nikulina, Head of the Executive Committee of the Bugulma Municipal District, Larisa Sulima said: «We’ve carried the flag through 16 cities of Russia and Bugulma became the 5th one on the territory of Tatarstan, that the historic flag of international university sports visited. It’s noteworthy that this event coincided with the celebrations on the occasion of a young but significant for our multinational state holiday, National Unity Day. It’s just another proof of the fact that sports and peoples’ friendship are ideological keystones of Russian citizens.»

For her part, Tatyana Nikulina thanked the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate for the opportunity to become part of the global movement running under the motto ‘Towards the Universiade’ and promised that the youth of the Bugulma Region will take an active part in the preparations and staging of the 2013 Games.

Later on, the grand festival titled ‘We Are Russian Citizens’ took place in Bugulma as part of the FISU Flag Relay-related events and became a celebration of friendship of peoples residing on the territory of Tatarstan.

Greeting the festival’s audience, Lera Mustakimova, Deputy Head of the Bugulma Municipal District, stressed the special significance that both events celebrated on November 4th in Bugulma, National Unity Day and FISU Flag’s presentation, carry in the terms of strengthening the spirituality and civic consciousness of citizens. Larisa Sulima, Chief of Staff of the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate, thanked the citizens of Bugulma for a warm welcome extended to the Kazan 2013 delegates and a spectacular festival.

The 1st International Unity Festival ‘We Are Russian Citizens’ was held in the Youth Palace of Bugulma and featured both experienced performers that are already recognized nationally and best artists and bands made up of student amateurs. National Unity Day and the presentation of the 27th Summer Universiade brought together representatives of various generations and nationalities, i.e. Tatars, Russians, Bashkirs, Mordovians, Chuvashs, etc. Unique peculiarities of each national culture demonstrated on stage gave a full picture of the multinational diversity of the Russian Federation.

Young talented performers showcased their creative potential, thus demonstrating their desire to become part of the UNI-elite and UNI-reserve and take part in cultural events that will run during the Universiade inKazan.

Bugulma became the 21st city of Russia where the FISU Flag Relay passed through. There are two more cities on the route of the FISU Flag Relay in Tatarstan, i.e. Nizhnekamsk and Chistopol.

(Source: Media Department of Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate)

  Larisa Sulima