First arrivals for the Meeting of the Heads of Delegation of the Summer Universiade 2013 in Kazan

The Kazan Kremlin

KAZAN – The first representatives of FISU Member Associations arrived on the evening of April 2 in Kazan, which will host the Meeting of the Heads of Delegation from 4 to 6 April.
After going through the accreditation process, delegates, who already arrived on Wednesday, April 3, will have the opportunity to make a tour of the Kazan Kremlin, historical and government seat of the Republic of Tatarstan which also hosts the main cultural and architectural treasures of the city of Kazan. Built under the orders of Ivan IV, above the ruins of the old castle of Kazan khans, it is on the World Heritage list of UNESCO since 2000.

Arrival of USA HoD Garry Cunningham

The venue inspection visits, where delegates will be divided into three groups, begin Thursday, April 4 with in the morning, the visit of the “Basketball Hall”, the “Central Stadium”, the “Central Stadium Track and Field Hall”, the “Rowing Centre” and the Universiade Village. The HoD will have the opportunity to judge the progress of the work done and what remains to be done within the last 100 days prior to the 27th Summer Universiade in Kazan this July. At noon, lunch will be offered to the participants in the International Main Centre (IMC) in the Universiade Village.

Julio Jacob (URU) The tour will continue in the afternoon with the inspection of the “Gymnastics Center”, the “Burevestnik Swimming Pool”, the “Tennis Academy”, the “Saint Petersburg Volleyball Centre”, IMC and will conclude with the presentation of the official of the key Universiade Village to the Mayor of the Universiade Village.

On the other hand, the preparatory meetings of the Meeting of the Heads of Mission have been held at the Hotel Korston Kazan. Several meetings were also held in the context of the Universiade in Kazan in 2013 which, among other things, an important meeting with Swiss Timing.

The coming days will be dedicated to the presentation of the activity report of the Organizing Committee delegates who will then ask all their questions following the venue visits.

“I am very happy to see all the progress made in recent months”, commented Orhman Ulf (SWE), FISU Technical Chair for Basketball. “Infrastructure, besides a few details, is almost ready and I’m sure it will be a fantastic tournament. Thanks in large part to Eurosport and ESPN, which are responsible for the retransmission of the competition, college sports fans will have the chance to see evolve great nations of basketball such as Serbia, Russia, the United States, Lithuania and Australia.”

“I am very happy to see so many nations represented at the meeting of the Heads of Mission, despite the financial crisis”, Oleg Matytsin (RUS), FISU 1st Vice-President added. “The biggest problem we face, transportation, is about to be solved thanks to the hard work of the Organising Committee (OC) and transport partner companies of Kazan 2013. I hope that the delegates return home having received all the answers to their questions. In view of the success of the Universiade, it is imperative that FISU, the OC and the Kazan 2013 volunteers form a cohesive team. “

(Source: David Vandenplas, FISU Media Assistant)