The 2019 Winter Universiade Countdown Clock Has Been Launched

KRASNOYARSK – 5 June marked the 1,000-day countdown to the start of the 29th Winter Universiade Krasnoyarsk 2019. A series of events were held to celebrate this occasion, the main one being the launch of the countdown clock to the Opening Ceremony of the Games.

The day started with the opening of the Expo-Pavilion of the 2019 Winter Universiade as part of a big sports celebration on Tatyshev Island. This site has already managed to take the fancy of Krasnoyarsk citizens since last year. This season the pavilion is going to be even more interesting, dynamic and diverse. Parshikova Natalia, State Secretary – Deputy Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation, was the guest of honour at the event.

“The preparation for the Winter Universiade gives Krasnoyarsk an opportunity to build the venues and infrastructure, which will allow your city to host other major sporting events in the future. Why not dream about hosting, for example, the Youth Olympic Games here in Krasnoyarsk? Today’s work is investment into the future. Everything that is being done now is getting us one step closer to the Universiade. Everything is moving ahead just as it was during preparation for the Universiade in Kazan, for the Olympic Games in Sochi, for the FIFA World Cup in different cities—nothing new, the same problems, the same questions. Krasnoyarsk city and Territory are handling it just fine,” noted Ms. Parshikova.

The highlight of the day was the ceremony of launching the 2019 Winter Universiade countdown clock. New art installation is placed in the city centre on the Yenisei Riverfront in the vicinity of the Communal Bridge. The clock was made and installed with the support of Norilsk Nickel Mining and Metallurgical Company, the General Partner to the 29th Winter Universiade Krasnoyarsk 2019. Hundreds of citizens gathered to witness the momentous event. Viktor Tomenko, the Chairman of the Krasnoyarsk Territory Government, addressed the audience with a welcome speech.

“The time span of 1,000 days seems like a lot of time, however, when you look at the scope of the tasks, which are yet to be taken care of in Krasnoyarsk, namely, construction of the sports venues, improvement and development of the city infrastructure, the time will fly by only too quickly, I am sure of it,” emphasized Mr. Tomenko. “Every new day brings us closer to the start of the 2019 Winter Universiade. All heads of federal and territorial agencies keep a close eye on the time frame and schedule of preparation for this major event in the world university sports. However, we would like for all Krasnoyarsk citizens to join in this movement as well, after all, anticipation of a big celebration, which the Universiade undoubtedly is, is just as pleasant and interesting as the event itself.”

The clock is made in the colours of the Winter Universiade in Krasnoyarsk. It shows the exact time until the Opening Ceremony of the 2019 Winter Universiade. Today the citizens took dozens of photos with the new landmark on the background. And for potential participants of the Games the clock has started ticking.

“A lot of the athletes are moving in the direction of these competitions,” commented Nikolai Olyunin, Ambassador of the Winter Universiade Krasnoyarsk 2019, Silver Medallist of the Olympic Games in Sochi in snowboarding. “I have an acquaintance who is not a professional athlete, but would very much like to compete in the 2019 Winter Universiade. And in the autumn he is going to Italy to train for the event at his own expense. There are still 1,000 days. Yes, they will probably fly by quickly. Though, if you train yourself each day in the morning and in the evening, you will have had 2,000 training sessions. One can become an Olympic champion in those 2,000 training sessions.”

In addition, the participants of the project entitled ‘Lessons of the 2019 Winter Universiade’ went on a tour today. School students visited the venues of the Winter Universiade, including Fun Park ‘Bobrovy Log’, which is being thoroughly prepared for the forthcoming event. Let us recall that Norilsk Nickel Mining and Metallurgical Company, the General Partner to the 29th Winter Universiade Krasnoyarsk 2019, is leading the preparation of the venue for the competitions in alpine skiing.

“We have 1,000 days ahead to prepare the venue for the competitions of the 2019 Winter Universiade,” said Elena Gavrilova, General Director of Fun Park ‘Bobrovy Log’. “Actually, we have much less than 1,000 days until the test events, which will take place in March of 2018. Right now preparation of the site for construction of the sports and training unit for the athletes and judges is under way. The tracks are ready, but with regard to the new requirements we need to expand them a bit, so as to ensure that it is more comfortable to hold competitions and we are able to provide better safety to the participants. Infrastructure of the Fun Park, namely, snow generation systems, cableways and snowcats, fully comply with the requirements of international experts.”

The celebration ended with the concert at the Big Concert Hall entitled Extreme Classics. The authors of this idea suggested that extreme sportsmen of the Extreme Sports Centre ‘Sportex’ give a performance accompanied by the music performed by the Krasnoyarsk Academic Symphony Orchestra directed by Vladimir Lande. Right before the start of the concert the spectators witnessed an extraordinary fire performance.

(Source: Krasnoyarsk 2019 OC)