Universiade Flame arrives in Samara

SAMARA – On July 15th, residents of Samara welcomed the Flame of the 27th Summer Universiade to their city. The main symbol of the Universiade was carried around the streets and squares of one of the country’s biggest student centres by 34 Torchbearers. At the end of the Relay in Samara, the City Cauldron for the Universiade Flame was lit.

The main heroes of the Relay were top students from Samara and famous sports stars, including the double world and European aerobics champion Aleksandr Erofeev, double European athletics champion Anna Avdeeva, European champion and repeat medal-winner of the European and world taekwondo championships, Artyom Epifanov, volunteers, representatives of youth organisations, and the 2013 Summer Universiade’s partner companies.

The honour of being the first Torchbearer was awarded to Master of Sport of Russia, silver medallist at the 12th World University Rowing Championship, repeat Russian national champion and bronze medallist at the 2012 Russian Rowing Championship, Elena Senyukova. “It’s hard to put into words how I felt: I was happy and proud to have been given the job of carrying the Flame around Samara, but at the same time I was a little bit scared as well, because the Universiade is a global event,” comments Elena Senyukova. “The World University Games are first-rate competitions and it takes a lot to be successful at them!”  

The length of the Torch Relay route in the 28th city of the Russian leg, was approximately 5,000m. After starting on the bank of the Volga River, the Torchbearers carried the Flame via Krasnoarmeiskaya, Chkalova and Polevaya Streets and completed the Relay route near the Ladya Monument, where the City Cauldron was lit. 

Taking part in the celebrations were Minister of Agriculture and Food in the Republic of Tatarstan, Marat Akhmetov; Minister of Sport of the Samara Oblast Dmitry Shlyakhtin; First Deputy Mayor of Samara, Viktor Kudryashov; and Rector of Samara State University, Igor Noskov.

“From the bottom of my heart I wish to congratulate all of you on this great occasion: today, Samara is hosting the Torch Relay. I hope the people in our city will remember this day for a long time. I wish our national team great success and outstanding achievements!” Dmitry Shlyakhtin commented.

“Today is a historic day for all students in the Samara Oblast. Students have always strived to fulfill themselves, and sport represents an outstanding opportunity to do that,” Igor Noskov observed. “Student sport is actively developing in our region, and we are proud of our champions. And alongside our preparations for the Universiade, we have strengthened the university sports movement in Samara. I hope our sports stars will be successful and our volunteers will carry out some great work, after all, the Universiade is something in which Kazan, Samara and the whole of Russia can take pride.”

On behalf of the Republic of Tatarstan, Marat Akhmetov greeted residents of Samara: “We are sincerely grateful for giving such a warm welcome to the Torch Relay. We like the fact that Samara loves sport, because it is bringing up a generation of leaders. I hope that the Samara Oblast and the Republic of Tatarstan flourish.” Marat Akhmetov also presented some souvenir torches to the city’s leaders, to commemorate the Universiade Torch Relay’s arrival to Samara.

The 29th Russian city to host the Universiade Flame will be Orenburg.

(Source: Kazan 2013 Media Dept.)