2013 SU Update: FISU Seminar commences in Kazan

KAZAN – The FISU Seminar kicked off on January 17th in Kazan. The seminar focuses on transfer of the FISU members’ experience to the 2013 Games organizers with a view to enrich their sports event management knowledge and contribute to a better hosting of the 27th Summer Universiade in Kazan

Mark VandenplasAmong the FISU delegates to coach at the seminar are FISU Secretary-General/CEO Eric Saintrond, FISU Director for the Summer Universiade Marc Vandenplas, FISU CTI Chair for the Summer Universiade John Warnock, Chair of the FISU Medical Committee Lawrence Rink, FISU Director of Educational and Development Services Kolë Gjeloshaj, FISU Director of Administration Hedwige Hankart, FISU Director for the Winter Universiade Milan Augustin and other FISU staff members. On the Russian side it is attended by 1st Vice President of FISU and Russian Student Sports Union President Oleg Matytsin, representatives of the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate, Tatarstan’s ministries and departments, sponsors and partners, higher education institutions, non-governmental organizations, as well as hoteliers and restaurant-keepers of Kazan, Kazan 2013 volunteers and media outlets.

Milan AugustinThe seminar’s opening ceremony saw the participation of Iskander Muflikhanov, Director of the Presidential Department of Foreign Affairs and Aide to the President of Tatarstan on international issues, who expressed his greetings to the audience on behalf of Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov and the Tatarstan government. «We’ve already covered the major part of our journey dedicated to the preparations and staging of such a prestigious event forRussiaas the 27th World University Summer Games inKazan. A huge amount of work is already done, sports infrastructure construction is soon to be completed, key areas of the preparation for the Games are determined. We are grateful to FISU for the invaluable experience and we are confident that immense management experience of the International University Sports Federation together with Tatarstan’s energy and hospitality will allow to stage the Kazan Universiade at the highest possible level», Iskander Muflikhanov said assuredly.

The seminar offers the perfect opportunity to evaluateKazan’s readiness to stage the Universiade, as well as other events scheduled for 2012, such as the FISU EC meeting, International Youth Forum, several university championships and international media briefing, he stated. «I have no doubt that we can make it», the Presidential Aide added with confidence.

His words were backed up by 1st Vice-President of FISU and Russian Student Sports Union President Oleg Matytsin. «The 2013 Summer Universiade is totally without precedent in the history of the International University Sports Federation; it sets records in terms of the number of sports and the number of expected participants. The initiatives thatKazanputs forward make us proud of this project. That’s the reason why the experience of Kazan and Tatarstan is very valuable for FISU», said Oleg Matytsin.

Dr. Larry RinkAddressing the seminar entrants with a welcome speech, FISU Secretary-General/CEO Eric Saintrond noted that from the very start of Kazan’s bidding campaign and until now he had sensed Tatarstan’s incredible enthusiasm and he really appreciated it. «Prime Minister of Russia Vladimir Putin, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Organising Committee for the 27th World University Summer Games in Kazan Igor Shuvalov, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov, Kazan Mayor Ilsur Metshin always stress the importance of the forthcoming Universiade not only for Tatarstan, but for the whole of Russia as well. It’s very important for us. I also want to mention a professional and efficient work of the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate under the charge of Vladimir Leonov and of volunteers, of course. We truly enjoy our cooperation with you. I’m positive that you will succeed», Eric Saintrond stated.

(Source: Media Department of Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate)

Azat Kadyrov: The FISU Seminar is of High Practical Significance

As 1st Deputy Director General of the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate Azat Kadyrov admitted in the interview following the opening ceremony, this seminar was eagerly awaited in Kazan.

Azat Kadyrov

«Many issues will be discussed during the seminar, from the history of the International University Sports Federation to the key parts of the preparation and staging of the Universiade. The seminar will give answers to all the problems that we face nowadays and that we must resolve in the year 2012. It’s the first ever seminar held for our organizing committee, but our colleagues already have the experience of hosting events of this kind», Azat Kadyrov replied to the journalists.

The 1st Deputy Director General explained that the seminar’s practical significance was fairly high, as the working groups would discuss all the ins and outs of the upcoming Universiade: from athletes’ arrival to medal ceremonies.

Eric Saintrond

FISU Secretary General Eric Saintrond stressed that there were only 18 months to go until the World University Summer Games in Kazan and it was obvious that the number of experts and volunteers engaged in the project had increased. «The organising committee representatives have meetings with the FISU members more and more often. 18 months is a short term. At this stage it’s important to keep a regular track of how the preparation process runs. One of the major goals of the seminar is another chance to meet with the FISU Family delegates and study our experience», Eric Saintrond noted.

In addition, he reminded that the FISU Executive Committee meeting would be held in May in Kazan. «We will have a larger delegation and an excellent opportunity to meet the organizing committee in Kazan again. Speaking of which, I’d like to mention Team 2013’s high professionalism and readiness to stage the competitions. We are positive that the Games will be a success», the FISU SG/CEO said.

The program of the seminar scheduled to run until January 19th features workshops hosted by the FISU members for the representatives of the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate, as well as federal and republican ministries and departments responsible for the hosting the Universiade in Kazan. The working groups will discuss the issues that emerge in the preparation and staging of the Games, such as sports event management, safety control, medical service and doping control, media and TV broadcasting, information technologies, financial liabilities, protocol and others.