2013 SU Update: Kazan is a City were Knowledge is Sport and Sport is Science

KAZAN – The International Conference ‘Sport. Education. Culture’ started off with a solemn opening ceremony and plenary session that took place in the Korston Hotel and Mall on June 17th. The conference held under the aegis of the FISU assembled sports managers from all over the world interested in development of international university sport movement

The FISU delegation headed by its President George E. Killian arrived inKazanwith an intention to attend the event. Apart from FISU members and presidents of national university sports federations and FISU Continental Associations, the conference also saw participation of Executive Director of the Russian Olympic Committee Marat Bariev, State Secretary of the Ministry of Sport, Tourism and Youth Policy of the Russian Federation Natalia Parshikova, President of the Russian Student Sports Union Oleg Matytsin, Tatarstan Prime Minister Ildar Khalikov, Kazan Mayor Ilsur Metshin, Tatarstan Minister of Touth, Sports and Tourism Rafis Burganov.

“On the threshold of the Universiade, development of university sports in Tatarstan is gaining a special significance”, the Tatarstan Prime Minister remarked in his speech. “We are thankful to FISU for enabling us to get involved in the international university sports movement. The very preparations for the World University Summer Games have considerably boosted Tatarstan youth’s activity, transformed the thousand-year-old city’s image. Roads are being reconstructed, sports venues are being built, all these are to become the richest Universiade legacy. I’m happy that the sports and scientific forum that was held inKazanunder the FISU aegis in April 2007, brought together best world experts in Tatarstan. It’s important for us to find solutions to the challenges that world university sport movement faces and exchange an invaluable experience in management of sporting events.”

Kazan Mayor Ilsur Metshin delivered his speech in English, reassuring the FISU members, that the city would be capable to hold the Universiade at the highest level. “It seems like yesterday we have been celebratingKazan’s winning bid to host the 2013 Summer Universiade, and today the city has totally changed. New roads, road interchanges, hotels, restaurants are being built for the Games. But the most important thing for me is that now all of us,Kazancitizens, live with the ideas of sport and a healthy lifestyle in our minds. Sport and health have turned into fashion”, the Mayor said.

FISU President George E. Killian was generous in his appraisal ofKazan’s achievements in the preparations for the Universiade. “Our federation put plenty of effort to consolidate national and continental federations. The time has come for us to exchange experience. The Volga Region Academy of Physical Culture, Sports and Tourism was established for this purpose inKazan, with the FISU International Education Centre to open its doors later on. All this is to turn into the Universiade’s legacy ready to serve your country and become part of the world sports property. I’m glad that ideas of international university sport movement are promoted in your city. I hope that some time later we will be ready to welcome athletes from all over the world at the University Games inKazan.”

On behalf of Russian Olympic Committee, OCR Executive Director Marat Bariev extended his welcome to the audience. “I’m so pleased that the first sport and scientific forum that was held in Kazan four years ago served as a starting point for university sport development not only in Tatarstan and Russia, but all over the world as well,” he said. “Positive tendencies for consolidation of international university sport movement are obvious, as well as the impact of the preparations for the World University Games on youth, which is striving to get a qualitative education, learn foreign languages, gain work experience in countries where large-scale international sporting events are staged. On the whole, people has changed their attitude towards sports, the Universiade’s status is increasing, at present the University Games are viewed as a parade of national delegations’ sport reserve. Another positive example of the changes is the amount of attention paid to the FISU Education Centre founded on the basis of the Volga Region Academy of Physical Culture, Sports and Tourism. The academy is designed to provide qualitative student training in the association with the international expert society. If we introduce the same practice all over the world and establish such centres within a ten-year period, we will be able to multiply the FISU and world university sport legacy and increase people’s living standards”, Marat Bariev concluded.

(Source: Media Department of Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate)