2013 SU Update: Vladimir Putin stated that Kazan should host all test events by June 2012

Russian PM Vladimir Putin

KAZAN – On February 9th, the Russian Prime Minister held a Saint-Petersburg-Kazan spacebridge session on preparation progress of the 2013 Summer Universiade in Kazan. Vladimir Putin connected via video conference with six Universiade venues: Sankt-Peterburg Volleyball Centre, Universiade Village, Vatan Ice Arena, Burevestnik Swimming Pool, Ak Bars Wrestling Palace and the construction site of the 45,000-seat stadium.

Minister of Sports, Tourism and Youth Policy of the Russian Federation Vitaly Mutko and Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov took part in the session as well.

In his welcome speech Vladimir Putin congratulated the spacebridge participants on Russia’s top place in the medal count of the 2011 Winter Universiade in Erzurum. He pointed out that the World University Winter Games were comparable to the Olympics and the funds allocated for preparation of the University Games would reach 11.5 bln rubles in 2011. After that the Prime Minister opened the discussion of the 2013 Summer Universiade preparation progress.

While reading his report, Vitaly Mutko stated that from year to year the University Games were getting more and more competitive. “Holding such a big sports forum is to boost sports development in Russia and enables us to estimate our reserve,” the Minister stated. In his report he underlined that a solid piece of work was done in all the fields of preparation for the 2013 Summer Universiade. Construction of a new sports infrastructure in the capital of Tatarstan creates perfect conditions for establishing the sports centre of Russia.

For his part, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov said that there were 884 days to go until the Universiade in Kazan. “There are 25 sports venues put into operation, children and youth sports schools have training sessions there and Kazan citizens have free access to their facilities,” Rustam Minnikhanov said. The Tatarstan President thanked the Russian government and all federal and republican ministries and departments involved in preparation of the Games for the rendered support, regular financing and offered to have a virtual tour around the Universiade venues.

The Sankt-Peterburg Volleyball Centre became the first venue to be linked with the Russian Prime Minster. Director General of the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate Vladimir Leonov and world volleyball star Ekaterina Gamova were the first to greet Vladimir Putin. Vladimir Leonov reported that great attention was paid to personnel and volunteers training. The Executive Directorate works in close cooperation with the Sochi 2014 and APEC Organizing Committees.

Vladimir Putin asked Ekaterina Gamova whether she was content with the volleyball facilities. “I thank you for this home of volleyball that became our home as well. It has perfect facilities for competitions and training,” the two-time world champion said.

The next venue that joined the video conference with the Russian Prime Minister was the Universiade Village. Village Mayor Farid Abdulganiev reported about preparation of the student campus for the University Games and stated that thanks to the Russian government and Vladimir Putin over 2,500 students had moved into excellent residence halls. Universiade Village residents invited the Russian Prime Minister to visit them.

Later on Vladimir Putin talked via video conference to Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin and Tatarstan ice hockey players that took the gold medal at the 2011 Winter Universiade in Erzurum from the Vatan Sports Complex. “Thanks to the Universiade both university and grassroots sports come to life… The city’s infrastructure changes and what’s more important our youth changes as well: they learn foreign languages, they do sports, they join the volunteering movement,” the Mayor of Kazan said. For his part, Vladimir Putin congratulated the hockey players on their triumph at the Universiade and promised to learn to skate.

Kazan volunteers

Chairman of the Physical Culture and Sports Committee of the Kazan Executive Committee Ilgiz Fakhriev was next to report from the Ak Bars Wrestling Palace. “It’s one of the first Universiade venues put into operation. The venue’s potential is used to the fullest capacity. Over 1,000 young athletes and sports enthusiasts attend the venues on a daily basis. This year the venue is expected to host the World Judo Championship and the European Weightlifting Championship”, he said. Vladimir Putin noticed that the venue was one of the best in Russia and it had all the facilities that athletes can use to train to win.

Minister of Youth Affairs, Sports and Tourism Rafis Burganov greeted Vladimir Putin from the Biurevestnik Swimming Pool. He indicated that a year ago there had been only one 50-metre swimming pool in Kazan and now there were six of them and it couldn’t but contribute to Tatarstan swimmers victories.

Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov connected to the Prime Minister from the construction site of the 45,000-seat football stadium. The President reported the spacebridge participants about the construction progress of the key venue of the 2013 Summer Universiade which is to host the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

At the end of the spacebridge Vitaly Mutko noted that thanks to the Universiade Russia enriched itself with the city capable to host sporting events of any scale and the training centre for summer sports athletes.

(Source: Media Department of Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate)

Director General Vladimir Leonov & volleyball star Ekaterina Gamova

Village Mayor Farid Abdulganiev (r) with a Village inhabitant

Chairman of the Physical Culture and Sports Committee of the Kazan Executive Committee Ilgiz Fakhriev