2013 SU Update: Volga Federal District Media take Tour of Universiade Venues

KAZAN – The Volga Federal District media tour took place inKazanin the framework of the key preparation stages for the FISU Flag Relay held under the motto ‘Universiade in Your City!’.

The media tour was held under the patronage of the Russian President’s administration and represents one of the key stages of the grand media campaign for the promotion of the 27th World University Summer Games in the regions ofRussia. The tour gathered journalists from 12 regions of the Volga Federal District (VFD); all of them come from the cities included in the route of the FISU Flag Relay. Within their two-day stay in Kazan, the VFD media representatives got acquainted with the city’s sports infrastructure. The journalists had a city sightseeing tour organised for them, following which they headed to the Ak Bars Wrestling Palace, 45,000-seat football stadium, Olimp Sports Complex, Universiade Village and Tennis Academy.

At the Ak Bars Wrestling Palace the media representatives were greeted by Vladimir Leonov, Director General of the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate, who hosted the Kazan 2013 presentation, stressing the project’s significance for the whole of Russia. The question asked by the journalists related to preparation and implementation of the Kazan 2013 volunteer programme, personnel recruitment for the 2013 Summer Universiade and plans for increase ofKazan’s tourist attractiveness.

The media representatives were especially impressed by the construction speed of the Universiade sports venues, their quality and conformance to strict requirements, as well as by the qualitative changes in the city’s transportation infrastructure. «In three years of the preparations for the Universiade,Kazanhas taken the path that under usual terms takes nearly ten years. In this regard it is especially important that the newly built venues will serveKazan’s citizens and bring a healthy way of life into fashion», the Director General said.

Vladimir Leonov stressed the role media play in the preparations for the World University Summer Games inKazan. He expressed his deep gratitude to the VFD journalists for a vivid interest paid to the forthcoming event. «You are our closest neighbors that’s why this cooperation is extremely important for us. We hope that you will help us to get the Universiade’s significance over to the Russian audience. In general, we have a lot of work to do: in 2013 Russia hosts the World Athletics Championships and Universiade, in 2014 – Sochi 2014 Olympics, in 2015 – FINA World Championships, in 2016 – World Hockey Championship, in 2017 – Confederation Cup, in 2018 –FIFAWorld Cup. What’s next? Maybe, we’ll win another bid!», Vladimir Leonov stated with confidence.

In order to give the media representatives a glimpse of the construction volume and plans for consolidatingKazan’s image ofRussia’s sports capital, the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate offered them to visit the Universiade venues. Farid Abdulganiev, Universiade Village Mayor, took the journalists on a guided tour around the student campus and showed them residence rooms, administration and maintenance facilities. In the Tennis Academy representatives of MegaFon, the General Partner of the 27th World University Summer Games, delivered a presentation of key telecommunication solutions for the 2013 Summer Universiade in Kazan. Apart from that, media delegates were offered to attend a master class and try out the tennis courts.

On the next day the VFD media representatives visited the Rowing Centre and the 2011 ETTU European Youth Championships held these days inKazan. TheFISUFlag Relay project ‘Universiade in Your City!’, presented by Director General of the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate Igor Sivov and Advisor to the Director General and Chief of Staff of the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate Larisa Sulima, became the most anticipated event of the day.

(Source: Media Department of Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate)