2013 SU Update: Moscow Volunteers getting ready for Kazan 2013

MOSCOW – The Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate gained two partners in Moscow on Friday, January 27th. The Sholokhov MoscowState University for the Humanities and Department of Family and Youth Policy of Moscow joined Team 2013 in the preparations for the 27th Summer Universiade.

The official ceremony of signing a cooperation agreement with the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate took place in the Sholokhov Moscow State Universityfor the Humanities. It’s the 43rd higher education institution that had partnered with the Executive Directorate of the 27th Summer Universiade inKazan. The Sholokhov Moscow State Universityfor the Humanities is the top university of Russiain the sphere of applied technologies in the humanities; the university is recognized as the territory of comfort, as its buildings and facilities are equipped with additional infrastructure to ensure a free movement of people with disabilities. The university pays much attention to the development of student sports. Among the university’s alumni are two-time Olympic champion Svetlana Masterkova and her successor, national champion Anna Alminova, as well as winners of all possible cross country skiing medals at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver — Nikita Kryukov, Alexander Panzhinsky and Nikolay Morilov.

In the year 2010, the Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Volunteer and Coach Education Centre opened in the Sholokhov Moscow State University for the Humanities; the centre will be focused on training specialists to provide services to delegates and teams,  to work during protocol events, to render psychological and pedagogical support and social assistance to handicapped people.

Starting today, volunteers of the Sholokhov Moscow State University for the Humanities will be joined by other volunteer organizations of Moscow that are united under the aegis of Youth Commonwealth coordinated by the Department of Family and Youth Policy of Moscow. Volunteers of these organizations have a rich experience, know foreign languages and, what matters most, are motivated to provide active voluntary service.

The agreement signing meeting saw the participation of Chief of Staff of the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate Larisa Sulima, Rector of the Sholokhov Moscow State University for the Humanities Vladimir Nechaev, Head of the Youth Initiative Office of the Department of Family and Youth Policy of Moscow Lyudmila Tsoy, other officials, as well as volunteers of the university. The parties discussed a range of potential joint projects, among which are the 500 Days to Go until Kazan 2013 celebrations. “We were sincerely impressed by enthusiasm, creativeness and motivation level of volunteers inMoscow. Their eyes glow; we feel that we can count on them!” Larisa Sulima admitted.

It is expected thatMoscowvolunteers will be responsible for greeting and seeing off of national delegations and visitors of the Games arriving inRussiavia theMoscowtransportation hub, e.g. the airports Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo and Vnukovo. Needless to say, most students dream of visitingKazanso that to assist the organizing committee during the Games and to be in the thick of events.

Larisa Sulima delivered a presentation of the 27th Summer Universiade and announced that anyone could become a Kazan 2013 volunteer. To do this, it is required to complete an online application at , pass preliminary rounds and a training course. “It’s both enjoyable and important for us to know that students in Moscow are aware of the Universiade and are eager to actively participate in this event. Your experience and energy will be useful for us in the run up to, during and after the Universiade,” said the Chief of Staff of the Universiade Directorate to the students.

Earlier, the representatives of the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate visited the Sochi 2014 Volunteer Centre. The new partners of Kazan 2013 were handed the traditional complex of methodological recommendations aimed at promoting the ideas of the 2013 Summer Universiade inKazan, attracting students to volunteer activities, etc.

(Source: Media Department of Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate)