Universiade Flame visits Saratov

SARATOV – The Universiade Flame continues its epic journey through Russia as the people of Saratov gave a warm welcome to the Universiade Torch on June 14th. The city’s residents met the Torch Relay team with folk songs, peoples’ friendship dances and a delicious round loaf of bread.

Saratov is the 27th city on the Russian leg of the Torch Relay to welcome the Universiade Flame. 30 Torchbearers carried the main symbol of the Summer Universiade through the streets of Saratov, with the Relay culminating in the lighting of the City Cauldron. The celebrations kicked off in the square in front of Saratov State University, where the first torch was lit and handed to Mikhail Goremyko, Deputy Chairman of the Saratov Oblast Government.

The honour of being a Torchbearer in the Relay was granted to the best students of the city, members of the government, famous athletes, among them Artur Artenyan, repeat European champion and Russian bronze sambo medallist, and Oleg Grigoryev, Master of Sport, member of the Russian national track and field team and bronze medallist of Russia, as well as volunteers, representatives of youth organisations and partner companies of the 2013 Summer Universiade.

“These emotions are very hard to describe, because the Torch Relay is a unique event. Even when I passed the Flame to the next runner, I was still worried, not only about myself, but also about the subsequent Torchbearers,” Torchbearer and winner of the Faces of Universiade project, Olga Kozlachkova, shared her impressions. “The Universiade helps people to realise their potentials in various spheres – for athletes, it is a great chance to show themselves and to demonstrate high performance, while for the volunteers, it is an opportunity to make friends with students from around the world, to practise their foreign language skills and gain organisational experience.”

The culmination of the Saratov leg of the Relay was the traditional lighting of the City Cauldron, which was held in Chernyshevsky Square.

This solemn ceremony was also attended by Yury Kuzmin, Deputy Minister of Transport and Road Construction of the Republic of Tatarstan; Larisa Sulima, Chief of Staff, Deputy General Director of the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate; Nailya Brilenok, Chairman of the Saratov Oblast Duma, Minister of Youth, Sports and Tourism of the Saratov Oblast; and Leonid Kossovich, Rector of Saratov State University named after N.G. Chernyshevsky.

“Today, Saratov welcomed the Torch Relay, which is a significant event for our city,” said Mikhail Goremyko. “I am confident that all those who participated in today’s Relay, sincerely care for and support the young people that in July of this year will represent Russia at the Universiade. We will use our energy to charge up our national team, and help them to win the World University Games.”

Rector of Saratov State University Leonid Kossovich receives a souvenir torch from Larisa Sulima

On behalf of the Executive Directorate of the Kazan Universiade, Larisa Sulima greeted the residents of Saratov: “In exactly 22 days, the Universiade Flame, which you see on this stage, will be lit at the Kazan Arena Stadium – and the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan will take centre stage and bring together the elite of world university sports. We look forward to seeing you in Kazan!”

To commemorate the passing of the Universiade Torch through Saratov, Larisa Sulima and Yury Kuzmin presented souvenir torches to the city’s representatives.

(Source: Kazan 2013 Media Dept.)