12th WUC Rowing opens in Kazan

KAZAN – No need to express the enthusiasm of Kazan for this World University Rowing Championship, at nearly the same time as Shooting Sport, both serving as test events for the 2013 Universiade.

A CISCA meeting was held on September 5^th, presided by Oleg Matytsin, FISU EC delegate for this WUC, and with other members of CISCA: Lionel Girard and Eva Szanto, FISU CTI Chairs for Rowing and Taek Rim Yoon, CM delegate. The CIC delegate, Tarmo Jaakson, started accreditation.

This morning, trainings were held at the Rowing centre and accreditation continued, awaiting the participation of 26 countries: Australia, Belarus, Belgium, Hungary, Germany, Ireland, Italy, People’s Rep. of China, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Poland, United States of America, Ukraine, Finland, France, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Sweden, Estonia, South Africa and of course the Russian Federation.

Oleg Matystin was running from one meeting to another in the morning, being OC member, President of the Russian Federation and EC delegate for this event.

Before the opening ceremony, the LOC organized the planting of 33 trees at the Rowing Centre, as a symbol of the continuity of the athletes’ generation and victory not only in the future Universiade but in all the Championships held on this Rowing Channel. 26 athletes from each country have been chosen to do the planting, as well as special guests from FISU and FISA, the RSSU and the Russian Rowing Association as well as the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Sports and Tourism and the Russian Canoe-Kayak Federation and the Rowing Federation Of the Republic of Tatarstan

The official part of the Opening Ceremony took place with the bringing out of the Russian flag, the solemn march pass of the participating countries, and the different speeches from the Minister of Youth Affairs, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Tatarstan and the Chair of the OC, the 1^st Vice-President of FISU, the Gaudeamus Igitur, and finally the oaths of the athletes and the judges.

A small cultural programme consisted of “Sailor’s dance” performed by the State Song and Dance Ensemble of the Republic of Tatarstan, followed by the song “I believe you my mysterious Kazan” performed by Elmira Kalimullina.

All participants left the Rowing place in the evening, thinking about a good sleep before the start of the competitions.

(Source: Nicole Mangelschots, FISU Asst./Kazan 2013 Media Dept.)