Preparations for 2013 Summer Universiade enter Home Stretch

Larisa Sulima, Rafis Burganov & Ilsur Metshin

KAZAN – Kazan won the bid to host the 27th Summer Universiade exactly 5 years ago. To celebrate the anniversary of the victorious bidding campaign, leading journalists of the republic as well as popular social network users were brought together on 30 May at the Aquatics Palace, one of the key venues of the upcoming Games. Their questions were answered by Rafis Burganov, Minister of Youth, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Tatarstan, Ilsur Metshin, Mayor of Kazan, Larisa Sulima, Deputy Director General of the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate and Igor Sivov, Deputy Director General of the Executive Directorate of the 27th Summer Universiade 2013 in Kazan, Executive Director of the Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies. The discussion was moderated by Dilyara Khasanova, Director of the Media Department of the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate.

Addressing the audience, the Mayor of Kazan acknowledged that in preparation for the Summer Universiade a huge amount of work has been done during the past 5 years that has completely transformed Kazan, giving it the appearance of one of the most modern cities of Russia and giving it the title of sports capital of the nation. Ilsur Metshin thanked the media warmly for their objective coverage of the Games preparations that have now entered the home stretch.

Ilsur Metshin also noted that life in Kazan will not come to an end during the Summer Universiade. “Construction operations not related to the Universiade, for example, major repairs of schools, residential areas, construction of social mortgage and commercial housing will continue. Life will go on. The Universiade is the current stage of development in Kazan and the city will continue to develop afterwards,” said the Mayor as reported by the official website of the Mayor’s Office kzn.ru. 

Igor Sivov

Looking at the future, the city is already searching for a site to construct a new ice rink that will be the home of Kazan Dragons, the amateur ice hockey team who won the Night Hockey League. According to Ilsur Metshin, preference will be given to the Novosavinovsky City District. 

According to Rafis Burganov, Kazan is also being considered as a venue for the World Athletics Championships in 2016 and vies to host the Russian Athletics Championships in 2014. The Minister has no doubt that after the Summer Universiade Kazan will receive a lot of attractive offers in terms of hosting major international events.   

One of the most intriguing topics of the discussion was the Opening and Closing Ceremonies – the hallmark of the Games. The details surrounding the ceremonies have been kept strictly confidential but Ilsur Metshin lifted the veil of secrecy for the reporters. “The opening will be staged in a classical style: ballet, opera, large-scale lighting effects, beautiful dances and choreographed production… But the Closing Ceremony will be filled with youthful vibe. There will be appearances by Garik Sukachyov, Zemfira, Mumiy Troll, Yolka, Mashina Vremeni, Bi-2,” said the Mayor. 

According to Igor Sivov, citizens of Kazan will have no problems with moving around the city during the Summer Universiade. Firstly, as the Mayor promised, there will be no traffic jams caused by blocking streets for roadway replacement works. Secondly, people who drive their own cars will be able to do so during the Games, with the exception of the days of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, when it will be preferable to use public transportation.

(Source: Kazan 2013 Media Dept.)