2013 SU Update: First Ever Visa-Free Entry to Russia for SU Participants

KAZAN – First ever visa-free entry toRussia will be provided for athletes and members of official delegations participating in the 27th Summer Universiade.

All the required documents are currently under approval process, the President of Russia’s Decree is being drafted at the moment. This announcement was made by Director General of the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate during the briefing in the House of Government of theRepublicofTatarstan.

The briefing was timed to coincide with a symbolic date: 500 days to go until the start of the 2013 Summer Universiade inKazan.

Vladimir Leonov also revealed that 700,000 tickets were expected to be sold under the 2013 Summer Universiade ticketing program. It had been decided that free ticket distribution practices were not an option for Kazan 2013. But everything will be done to ensure that ticket holders to the 2013 Games events will enjoy a full service that comes with the ticket. Vladimir Leonov confirmed that the sales of tickets for the 27th Summer Universiade will officially open on July 6th, 2012 which marks exactly one year to go to the 2013 Games. The Opening and Closing Ceremony tickets will go on sale first, followed by sales of tickets to sports sessions, including medal events.

Official sales of souvenir items featuring the logo of Kazan 2013 will also launch this July to coincide in time with the start of ticket sales.

During the Q&A session with the media, Vladimir Leonov confirmed that the construction of the new 45,000-seat football stadium, the centerpiece for the 2013 Games which will host the Opening/Closing Ceremonies of the 27th Summer Universiade, will be completed by the spring of 2013. The Kazan 2013 Ceremonies rehearsals must start there on March 1st, 2013.

«The so-called infrastructure budget of the 2013 Summer Universiade totals approximately 100-120 bln rubles», Vladimir Leonov said. «This budget will cover: construction of the infrastructure, modernization of a number of venues, transportation infrastructure, etc. In fact, it is the overall volume of investments which is to be allocated in the build up to the 2013 Games», he said.

Moreover, there is an operational budget to support the staging of the Universiade. As of today, 10.5 bln rubles had been approved for it. This will also be made up of contributions from Partners of Kazan 2013, as well as ticket revenues and licensing, Vladimir Leonov stated.

(Source: Media Department of Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate)

Vladimir Leonov