Universiade Flame arrives in Russia

Volunteers await the arrival of the Universiade flame

KAZAN – The plane with the Flame of the 27th Summer Universiade on board landed in Vladivostok today, January 24th. A crew member of the bark Sedov, the four-masted tall ship, which had been carrying the Universiade Flame around the world, took a flight by Aeroflot, the Kazan 2013 Official Airline, to Vladivostok to deliver the Flame ahead of the start of the Torch Relay.

Anatoly Vasilyev, a photojournalist of the bark Sedov, had the honour of delivering the Universiade Flame to Russia. He was with the ship crew throughout the entire journey around the world. He also took an active role in delivering sports events under the aegis of the 2013 Summer Universiade aboard the bark during the voyage. More than that, Anatoly Vasilyev promotes a healthy way of life and encouraged members of the crew to do strength sports on this journey. 

The Universiade Flame was welcomed at the airport by Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin, Mayor of Vladivostok Igor Pushkarev, 1st Vice-President of FISU Oleg Matytsin, Deputy Director General of the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate and Opening/Closing Ceremonies Executive Director Igor Sivov, as well as 30 students of Far Eastern Federal University who are also volunteers for the 27th Summer Universiade. 

Anatoly-Vasilyev

“Dear Mr Mayor,” Anatoly Vasilyev addressed the Mayor of Kazan. “The bark Sedov has fulfilled its task and delivered the Flame of the 27th Summer Universiade Kazan 2013.”

Ilsur Metshin extended a cordial welcome to the traveller. “The Universiade Flame arrived in Russia after its big journey. May this Flame ignite the hearts of our citizens with love for sports and inspire the entire country. We are very excited to welcome all visitors to Kazan for the Summer Universiade and want the Games to become a national celebration. Welcome!” said Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin. 

“We are extremely happy that the Universiade Flame begins its journey in Vladivostok. It’s a great honour for us,” said Mayor of Vladivostok Igor Pushkarev after the welcoming ceremony. 

Oleg Matytsin thanked the Primorsky Territory Administration and Vladivostok Mayor’s Office for a warm welcome given to the Universiade Flame. “We hope that the idea of taking the Flame on a trip around the world will become a tradition and each host city of World University Games will support it for the sake of the common purpose, which is to raise a healthier younger generation”, said the FISU official. 

Kazan Mayor Metshin & FISU 1st Vice-President Matytsin

The 2013 Summer Universiade Torch Relay kicked off on July 12th, 2012 in Paris, France. The Universiade Flame was kindled in Paris-Sorbonne University where the first ‘World Student Games’ were held in 1923. On July 15, the Torch started a round the world trip on board the four-masted bark Sedov. The Universiade Flame’s circumnavigational journey became epic, reaching such large proportions for the first time in the history of FISU. The lantern with the Flame covered 45,000 nautical miles and repeated the route of the greatest sailors of all times.

The Russian leg of the Universiade Torch Relay begins in Vladivostok on January 25th. The formal ceremonies held to celebrate this event will be attended by 1st Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Igor Shuvalov, President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, famous Russian athletes Aleksey Morozov, Dinara Safina and Kamilla Gafurzyanova, TV presenter Irina Shadrina, Kazan 2013 volunteers. 60 Torchbearers will run through the streets of the city, each passing the Torch to one another. The total length of the Universiade Torch Relay route in Vladivostok is 15.5km. 

Travelling from west to east, the Flame will be carried through Russia’s 30 top student cities: Yakutsk, Krasnoyarsk, Novosibirsk, Arkhangelsk, Stavropol, Pyatigorsk, Sochi, Rostov-on-Don, Vladimir, Perm, Izhevsk, Kirov, Nizhny Novgorod, Samara, Saratov, Orenburg, Ufa, St. Petersburg, Moscow and other cities. After that the Universiade Torch Relay will pass through 43 municipal districts of the Republic of Tatarstan, finishing its odyssey at the football stadium in Kazan on July 6th, on the day of the 2013 Summer Universiade Opening Ceremony.

(Source: Kazan 2013 Media Dept.)