Joint Rehearsals of Universiade Opening Ceremony begin at Kazan Arena Stadium

KAZAN – Joint rehearsals of the Opening Ceremony for the 27th Summer Universiade, scheduled to take place a month from now, on 6 July, began at the Kazan Arena Stadium on Tuesday, 4 June. The details of the ceremony have not been disclosed. However, it is known that the installation of the set has entered its final phase. The assemblage weighs 467 tonnes and stands 50 metres high.

Kazan Mayor Ilsur Metshin, who had been appointed head of the interdepartmental working group in charge of the preparations for the Kazan 2013 SU Ceremonies, visited the first joint rehearsal at the Kazan Arena Stadium. The General Producer of the Ceremonies is People’s Artist of Russia, composer Igor Krutoy. The Artistic Director of the Games Ceremonies is Aleksey Sechenov, who oversaw the opening ceremonies of the European Rhythmic Gymnastics Championship in Baku and the Asian Winter Games in Astana, as well as the MUZ TV Music Awards in 2002-2012. The Chief Choreographer of the Ceremonies is Zhanna Shmakova. She was also involved in choreographing the opening ceremonies of the European Rhythmic Gymnastics Championship in Baku and the Asian Winter Games in Astana, and she acted as chief choreographer for the MUZ TV Music Awards, NIKA Awards, Silver Galosh Awards, Musical Heart of the Theatre Awards, and the Eurovision preliminaries. The Executive Director of the Games Ceremonies is Igor Sivov, Deputy Director General of the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate.

Games Ceremonies Executive Director Igor Sivov and Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin watch the rehearsal in progress

The rehearsals feature mainly performers from Kazan. The schedule is more than tight, with the rehearsals being held on a daily basis. In total, 70 ensembles from Kazan consisting of about 1,500 people will perform at the Opening Ceremony.

Ticket sales for the 2013 Summer Universiade events have exceeded all expectations. Tickets for the Opening Ceremony are nearly sold out. In addition, interest in volleyball, basketball, athletics, synchronised swimming, artistic gymnastics and rhythmic gymnastics is so high that tickets for these events may run out. The Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate is now coordinating athletes’ requests for tickets for their family and friends.

(Source: Kazan 2013 Media Dept.)