2013 SU Update: Nizhnekamsk Mayor accepts FISU Flag Replica

NIZHNEKAMSK – The FISU Flag Relay in the Republic of Tatarstan crossed the finish line as the FISU Flag replica with Nizhnekamsk’s name on it was handed over to Aidar Metshin, Mayor of the city.

The solemn FISU Flag replica handover ceremony took place in the municipal children and youth creativity centre and saw the participation of Nizhnekamsk Mayor Aidar Metshin, Chief of Staff of the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate Larisa Sulima, President of the Tatarstan Student League Timur Suleimanov, Chairman of Nizhnekamsk’s Student Council Igor Komissarov, master of sports, international class in freestyle wrestling Ildus Giniyatullin, scholarship holders and best students of higher education and secondary specialized education establishments of Nizhnekamsk. Minister of Energy of the Republic of Tatarstan Ilshat Fadeev attended the ceremony as an honorable guest.

Accepting the FISU Flag replica from the organizers of the Universiade inKazan, Aidar Metshin stated that the Universiade was a unique event and involvement in it was honorable and very important for all Nizhnekamsk citizens. «Today’s ceremony, the FISU Flag replica handover to our city, marks the beginning of our partnership with the Universiade Directorate and will make us believe that our athletes will be called up to the national team of Russia and will perform at the Universiade in Kazan. I’m confident that our volunteers will be among those that will make their strong contribution to the preparation and delivery of the Games.»

«If Kazanis called the sports capital of Russia, Nizhnekamsk can be called the sports capital of Tatarstan. The city has a well-established sports history that glorifies the city worldwide. One of the most graphic examples is Nizhnekamsk-born skier Alia Iksanova who earned four medals at the 2011 Winter Universiade in Erzurum. I’m confident that athletes from Nizhnekamsk will be called up to the Russian national team for Kazan 2013», said Chief of Staff of the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate Larisa. «Volunteers are those on which any international events are judged:from arriving at the airport to departure. At each given moment of the Games it will be volunteers that the general atmosphere and mood of the Universiade will depend on, let alone the impression of our city and country that our visitors from different countries of the world will take home with them», said Larisa Sulima in her speech. She called upon all the students of Nizhnekamsk Municipal Institute to register online at and join the ranks of Kazan 2013 volunteers.

And to motivate students to be bold in the face of difficulties, the FISU Flag Relay delegates handed a symbolical hundredweight of salt to the Chairman of Nizhnekamsk’s Student Council.

Before the solemn ceremony drew to an end, Aidar Metshin answered questions of student activists and also granted scholarships to the best of them, following which the audience was offered to view the Kazan 2013 volunteer program presentation.

A few hours earlier, the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate had signed a cooperation agreement with Nizhnekamsk Municipal Institute.

(Source: Media Department of Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate)