Two Olympic champions added as Winter Universiade 2019 Ambassadors

Olympic gold medalist gymnast Svetlana Khorkina and Olympic figure skating champion Adelina Sotnikova join an impressive group of athlete Ambassadors for the 29th Winter Universiade

MOSCOW – During the country’s Day of Sport in the historic Red Square district of the capital city, Krasnoyarsk Winter Universiade 2019 welcomed two well-known athletes from the Russian Federation as event Ambassadors: two-time Olympic gold medalist gymnast Svetlana Khorkina and Olympic figure skating champion Adelina Sotnikova.

Throughout the day, attendees sought out to meet the two newest Ambassadors at an expo site set up to promote the Krasnoyarsk Winter Universiade.

The gymnast Svetlana Khorkina and figure skater Adelina Sotnikova join an A-list group of athlete ambassadors for the Krasnoyarsk 2019 Winter Universiade

Khorkina and Sotnikova join an impressive line-up of renowned athlete ambassadors that also include Alexei Yagudin, Dinara Safina, Alena Zavarzina and Vic Wild, Evgeny Ustyugov, Alexander Semin, and other sports stars. The Ambassadors’ role is to increase student sport and the pursuit of a healthy lifestyle.

During the Moscow event,  athletes led contests, sport quests and classes for kids.

Amongst the crowd at the Krasnoyarsk 2019 expo site

The Initiation ceremony was opened by the head of the Krasnoyarsk region Permanent delegation under the Government of the Russian Federation Yelena Shamakhova and Deputy Director General of the Winter Universiade 2019 Executive Directorate Denis Branchukov.

“These are the first winter Games hosted by Russia and we shall make every effort to ensure this event is held at the highest possible level and leaves its mark in world sport history,” Branchukov said.  

“Popularization of student and youth sport is a top priority for us, and the Ambassadors of the Winter Universiade 2019 are those who fulfill this task by demonstrating all the beauty, power and majesty of sport by their personal example».

The Red Square in Moscow provided a historic backdrop to the event

Addressing the crowd, Khorkina spoke about what an honor it was to be Winter Universiade ambassador. “I understand very well what it means to be an ambassador of the Games, and I know that we are heavily responsible to all people who wait for these competitions.”

Added figure skater Sotnikova “I wish all the athletes every success, the best of health and top results.”

The 29^th edition of the Winter Universiade will be held in Krasnoyarsk from the 2^nd to 12^th of March, 2019. Over three thousand young athletes from 50 countries are expected to take part in the Games. Athletes will compete in 73 medal events across 11 winter sports.