Universiade Flame brings Light and Cheers to Pyatigorsk

PYATIGORSK – On 24 May, the 2013 Summer Universiade Torch Relay visited Pyatigorsk, the capital of the North Caucasian Federal District. The city greeted the Universiade Flame with southern hospitality. Thousands of residents and visitors to the city accompanied the main symbol of the Universiade with applause all along its route in Pyatigorsk.

34 Torchbearers carried the Universiade Flame through Pyatigorsk. Among them were students from the region, famous athletes, volunteers, as well as representatives of the Kazan 2013 SU’s partner companies. The Torch Relay’s route in Pyatigorsk passed through all of the city’s most iconic and picturesque places. It started in front of the Kirov Park and continued past the Cathedral of Christ the Savior and the city’s Eternal Flame and concluded in the square in front of City Hall.

“That was unforgettable!  I didn’t expect it to be so cool, so cheerful and lively, “ said the Torchbearer Aleksey Marchenko who studies at Pyatigorsk State Pharmaceutical Academy. “Before I received the Torch, I felt worried, but when I started running, all the worry left me and I felt euphoria. These hundreds of metres flew by in a flash! I really want to go to the Universiade in Kazan and root for the Russian national football team.”

Traditionally, the Torch Relay ended with the lighting of the City Cauldron. Lev Travnev, Mayor of Pyatigorsk; Aleksandr Gorbunov, Rector of Pyatigorsk State Linguistic University; and Talgat Tagirzyanov, Deputy Agriculture Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan, were special guests at the event. 

“Today is a day of sport in our city: Pyatigorsk welcomes the Universiade Torch Relay. For us, this is a huge honour to participate in an event of such a scale.  What’s more, this honour is absolutely deserved because we have something to be proud of. A lot of young people from our region are on Russia’s national teams,” said Lev Travnev. “I am absolutely certain that the pride for our beautiful and athletic youth has been lit in our hearts today.”

Mayor Lev Travnev kindles the City Cauldron

“The Pyatigorsk Torch Relay is a joy for students of the region because the Universiade is for students,” Aleksandr Gorbunov emphasised. “Sport is happiness, enjoyment, and pleasure. It’s what develops a person as a whole. Practise sport!”

“On behalf of the Republic of Tatarstan, I would like to thank you for hosting the Torch Relay in Pyatigorsk and invite you all to the Universiade in Kazan!” said Talgat Tagirzyanov. At the end of the ceremony, Tatarstan’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture presented the city’s leaders with replicas of the 2013 Summer Universiade Universiade Torch.

Next stop is Sochi, the host city of the 2014 Winter Olympics.

(Source: Kazan 2013 Media Dept.)