Vladimir Putin tours Kazan’s Key Universiade Venues

KAZAN – Russian President Vladimir Putin inspected the Aquatics Palace, the football stadium under construction, Gymnastics Centre and Kazan Tennis Academy during his working visit to the host city of the 27th Summer Universiade on Tuesday, March 19. The Head of State was accompanied by First Deputy Prime Minister and Games Organising Committee Chairman Igor Shuvalov, and Rustam Minnikhanov, President of the Republic of Tatarstan.

While visiting the Aquatics Palace, Vladimir Putin was briefed on the key features of the upcoming sporting event. According to Director General of the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate Vladimir Leonov, the Summer Universiade in Kazan will be the largest in the history of FISU. Competitions in 27 sports will be held at 64 venues, with 13,500 athletes competing in 351 medal events.

Vladimir Putin also viewed the project of the football stadium where the Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies will unfold. The President of Russia noted that the funds had been used effectively for the construction project, pointing out the comparatively low cost of building such a major venue. “It would make sense to look at how stadiums in other regions are being built,” Vladimir Putin said to Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko, referring to the construction of stadiums for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. “Perhaps we should consider using this project as a model.”

The Russian President also took notice of the large quantity of steelworks used in the construction of the football stadium. “Metallurgy is currently in a downturn,” he said. “If we build such stadiums, it will give a considerable boost to metallurgical plants.”

Later on, President Vladimir Putin was presented with the Universiade Torch. After that the guests stepped out onto the stands of the new Aquatics Palace to view the pools. All three pools were filled with water last week and are currently filtered with the latest pool filter technology.

While at the football stadium, Tatarstan Prime Minister Ildar Khalikov reported to the Russian President on the progress of the work. The Head of the Tatarstan Government informed that current construction completion status for the Kazan Arena Stadium includes the roof – 98%, utility networks – 93% and the facade – 86%. He said that most of the remaining work involves beautification of the premises that will be completed during the warm months of the year.

“We had to extend the deadlines in connection with the FIFA requirements for the stadium. But are you on schedule now?” asked Vladimir Putin. “Yes, everything is on schedule,” Khalikov assured him. The President viewed the locker rooms and then the guests went down to the pitch.

When visiting the Gymnastics Centre, Vladimir Putin was greeted by Irina Viner-Usmanova, President of the Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation of Russia. She said that the new centre provides the best possible conditions for athletes to work in. The Russian President met with members of Tatarstan’s national rhythmic gymnastics team and watched them perform. Later he also attended students’ training session.

Russian Tennis Federation President Shamil Tarpischev welcomed Vladimir Putin at the Tennis Academy and reported that the sports complex is perfectly suited for training and coaching tennis players.

At the Main International Centre, the President of Russia was briefed on the Universiade Village, a complex which was designed to serve as a home away from home for athletes during the 2013 Summer Universiade. Communications and Mass Media Minister Nikolay Nikiforov explained the IT and telecommunications infrastructure for the Games to President Putin. “Almost everything but the timing system was developed and manufactured in Russia,” Nikiforov reported. Tatarstan’s Minister of Informatisation and Communications Roman Shaikhutdinov presented the accreditation and ticketing systems, along with the Games IT terminal that also doubles as a ticket sales machine. After the Universiade, the terminals will be used to provide electronic government services.

Immediately upon completion of the venue inspection, a meeting of the Council for the Development of Physical Culture and Sports under the President of Russia was held at the Main International Centre. During the session Vladimir Putin was handed his accreditation badge by Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko and was invited to attend the Games Opening Ceremony.

(Source: Kazan 2013 Media Dept.)