Universiade Flame arrives in Land of Olonkho

YAKUTSK – Yakutsk, another Far Eastern city on the route of the Universiade Torch Relay, became first to celebrate 100 days to go to the start of the 27th Summer Universiade as the Flame was delivered here from its previous host, Khabarovsk. Crowds of students and local citizens, as well as representatives of the Games partners and, of course, the Torchbearers gathered to cheer the Flame’s arrival in the city.

The fact that hundreds of sports fans gathered in Lenin Square and high-ranking guests attended the event speaks volumes about the event’s importance. Egor Borisov, President of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia); Alexander Vlasov, Deputy Chairman of the Government; Oleg Matytsin, FISU 1st Vice-President and Russian Student Sports Union (RSSU) President; and Mikhail Gulyaev, Sports Minister of Yakutia, attended the Universiade Torch Relay welcome ceremony. 

“Three weeks ago we witnessed a historic sporting event – we welcomed the Universiade Torch Relay in our home city. We’ve carefully stored the Flame which has become the most popular exhibit at the university’s museum. Today we are happy to be present at the ceremony of handing the Flame, the symbol of peace, friendship and student solidarity, over to the next host,” Khabarovk’s Flame Keeper Alexey Sokolov, the student of Far Eastern Academy of Physical Culture, said in his opening speech to the audience.

FISU 1st Vice-President Matytsin

Greeted by a storm of applause from the crowd that gathered in the square, Oleg Matystin, FISU 1st Vice-President and RSSU President, became the first to light the Universiade Torch in Yakutsk. “It’s a great honour for me to attend today’s celebration on hospitable Yakutian soil. This day will go down in the history of both the republic and Russia. Take care of the Universiade Flame, the symbol of friendship that brings together all students of Yakutia! I wish us victories, success and I want this fire stay in your hearts,” he said. 

President of the Republic of Sakha Egor Borisov extended his warm greeting to local citizens and guests: “Today we are having a mega event  –  the Universiade Flame arrived in our city! Giving it a welcome, we continue strong sports traditions of our republic and its hard-working people.”

The privilege to become Yakutsk’s first Torchbearer was granted to Leonid Spiridonov, the bronze medallist of the 2009 FILA Wrestling World Championships, Asian Cup holder, world champion and national title holder among students. The Universiade Torch Relay set off in one of the main squares of the city and weaved its way through central Yakutsk, passing many of the city’s most iconic landmarks such as Lenin Avenue, People’s Friendship Square, Kulakovsky Street, Dezhnev Street and other sites. 

Leonid Spiridonov

The city’s most well-known and highly respected citizens had the honour of carrying the major symbol of the World University Games. Among the Torchbearers were Dmitry Glushko, Vice-President of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) and President of the Children of Asia Games International Committee; Valery Kochnev, the veteran of the Great Patriotic War and Honoured Worker of Physical Culture of the USSR; Georgy Balakshin, the bronze medallist at the 2008 Olympic Games; Vladimir Badynets, the silver medallist at the 2012 Paralympic Games. 

Kazan 2013 volunteer Alisa Omukova shared her fantastic experience of carrying the Flame: “I’m happy to be involved in the Universiade Torch Relay, I’m overwhelmed with emotion. I train Yakutsk’s volunteers who will participate in the 2013 Summer Universiade, that’s why it is especially important for me to be part of this marathon.”  

The Universiade Torch Relay celebration concluded at the Yunost Stadium. Highlights of the festivities were a flamboyant display of local folk dance traditions and Torchbearer Valery Kochnev who rode in a dog sled for his leg. Appearance of the Pinigins, the married couple of big-name Olympic champions Pavel and Maria, as the Torchbearers came as a pleasant surprise for students and sports fans who lined the streets of Yakutsk to welcome the Universiade Torch Relay. The privilege to kindle the City Cauldron was given to the alumnus of North-Eastern Federal University (NEFU) Georgy Balakshin, who is also the medal winner at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. 

The Torch Relay came to an end at North-Eastern Federal University named after M.K. Ammosov where the Universiade Flame was placed for storage until the handover to the next host, Krasnoyarsk. NEFU Rector assured that the Flame, the symbol of mind, friendship, harmony and progress, will be carefully kept at the university until 19 April, when the new stage of the Universiade Torch Relay begins. 

(Kazan 2013 Media Dept.)