Kazan 2013 trains Media Volunteers for Summer Universiade

KAZAN – A briefing on the U-MEDIA School of Sports Journalists project was held this weekend in Kazan. The project will help to train an army of media volunteers for the 27th Summer Universiade 2013. The Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate, FISU International Education Centre (FISU IEC) and Volga State Academy of Physical Culture, Sports and Tourism will teach professional skills to photographers, reporters, and bloggers.

At the briefing, future participants of the school took a look at the history of international university sports movement and the Universiade. They were also given an insight into FISU’s work and activities, as well as the history of Kazan’s successful bid to host the 2013 Summer Universiade and the principles of organising the media coverage for the upcoming Games.

The U-MEDIA educational project will allow the attendees to learn in a short time the specifics of covering sports events as well as to see with their own eyes what press facilities and services will be provided to the media at major international sporting events. The participants will also get practical experience in the field of sports journalism. In order to make the training as effective as possible, a whole host of Russian and foreign experts, practicing sports journalists, and big-name athletes have been brought into the educational process. They will take part in two modules: 16-19 May and 24-27 May.

Besides lectures by international and Russian guest speakers, tutors will work with the future sports journalists on a daily basis. They will help the attendees to fix mistakes or shortcomings and tell them how to find or create media coverage opportunities during sports competitions and how to present them to sports fans. In addition, the attendees of U-MEDIA will visit Universiade competition venues and participate in press conferences and test events which Kazan will host in the run-up to the Games.

In addition to the volunteers selected through the Kazan 2013 Volunteer Programme to assist the Games OC, residents of Russia who are interested in sports and speak English are also eligible to participate in the project. 

(Kazan 2013 Media Dept.)