Cheboksary becomes 23rd City to host Universiade Torch Relay

CHEBOKSARY – On 10 June, the Universiade Torch arrived in Chuvashia. The Universiade Flame was greeted by residents of Cheboksary. 40 Torchbearers carried the Flame along the streets of Chuvashia’s capital. Cheboksary has become the 23rd city of the Russian leg of the Universiade Torch Relay.

The honour of carrying the Universiade Flame across Cheboksary was given to the best students of the city, famous athletes, including Merited Master of Sport, world champion, 20km race walking silver medallist of the Olympic Games Olympiada Ivanova; Master of Sport in Biathlon, repeat winner and runner-up in the World and European Championships as a member of the Russian national team Evgeny Petrov; Master of Sport in Athletics, European cross country running champion as a member of the Russian national team Ekaterina Matyunina; Master of Sport in Athletics, USSR cross country running champion, two-time champion of the Spartakiade of People of the RSFSR Nikolai Grigoriev. The honour of carrying the Torch was also given to volunteers, representatives of youth organisations as well as the 2013 Summer Universiade’s partner companies.

“The Torch Relay was excellent! I compare international competitions and our today’s sports celebrations, and I have to say honestly that the emotions are very intense here,” said Master of Sport in Biathlon, repeat winner and runner-up in the World and European Championships, Torchbearer Evgeny Petrov. “I would like to thank everyone who organised the Torch Relay in our city, also my parents, coaches and, of course, those people who gave me the opportunity to take part in this Torch Relay as a Torchbearer!”

Sports Minister of Chuvashia Sergey Melnikov holds the Flame during the official ceremony“I feel like I am part of something great! You get charged with positive energy coming from the emotions of the people that you meet on the streets of the city. It is an indescribable experience!” shared her impressions student at Cheboksary Institute of Economics and Management, Torchbearer Elena Pushkova.

The Torch Relay in Cheboksary was 5,000 metres long, and it went through the central streets and squares of the city. The Torch Relay in Cheboksary kicked off in the square in front of the city’s railway station, then the Relay’s motorcade travelled past Chapaev Square, Yuri Gagarin Statue, Republic Square, as well as Red Square where the Torch Relay concluded with the lighting of the City Cauldron of the Universiade. The privilege of lighting the City Cauldron was given to student at Chuvash State Pedagogical University named after I.Ya. Yakovlev, winner at the 2011 Summer Universiade Kseniya Kirillova.

The solemn ceremony was attended by Minister of Land and Property Relations of the Republic of Tatarstan Azat Khamayev; Minister of Physical Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Chuvash Republic Sergey Melnikov; Mayor of Cheboksary Leonid Cherkesov; and Oleg Viktorov, Vice-Rector for Educational Work and Security of the Chuvash State University named after I.N. Ulyanov.

“We are delighted to welcome the Universiade Flame to our city. Today, we have a unique opportunity to take part in a historic event. And I think that this opportunity was given to us as the high appreciation of the Chuvash Republic ‘s large contribution to the development of university sport,” noted Sergey Melnikov. “Our athletes have always defended our country’s honour by winning the highest places on the podium, and I am sure that the athletes of Chuvashia will win medals for the Russian national team at the Universiade in Kazan.”

“The city of Cheboksary is proud of the fact that today we are hosting the Universiade Flame. The Torch with the Flame carried along the central squares and streets lit our residents’ hearts with patriotism and sports spirit. I think that after this event even more people will be engaged in sports,” noted Leonid Cherkesov.

“I welcome you on behalf of the leadership and the inhabitants of the Republic of Tatarstan, and I invite you to the Universiade in Kazan! The Universiade is the celebration of youth and sport. The capital city of Tatarstan will receive 13,000 athletes from 127 countries who will be competing in various sports over a period of 11 days. Let us wish our national team victories and major sports achievements!” underlined Azat Khamayev. At the end of the ceremony, he presented souvenir torches to the leadership of Cheboksary.

The Universiade Flame sets off to the next host city of the Torch Relay: Ulyanovsk. 

(Source: Kazan2013 Media Dept.)