STAVROPOL – On May 23rd, the Flame of the 27th Summer Universiade arrived in Stavropol, the first southern city on the Russian leg of the Universiade Torch Relay.
The Universiade Flame, which has arrived by plane from Arkhangelsk, began its journey through the city from Stavropol State Agrarian University. Honorary guests who were present at the ceremonial lighting of the first runner’s torch, namely Sergey Osadchy, Deputy Chairman of the Stavropol Krai Government, and Talgat Tagirzyanov, Tatarstan’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture, handed the first torch to Vladimir Trukhachev, Rector of Stavropol State Agrarian University.
“Today we are greeting the Flame of the 27th Summer Universiade. This is a truly great event, and trust me, you will always remember this day,” Vladimir Trukhachev remarked. “The 2013 Summer Universiade will bring together 13,000 athletes from 170 countries of the world. And today, by participating in the Torch Relay, we are sharing the excitement with the future participants of the Games.”
The length of the Stavropol leg of the Torch Relay was 3,500 metres. The region’s best students, athletes, volunteers and representatives of the 2013 Summer Universiade’s partners had the honour of bearing the Torch. All together, 36 Torchbearers carried the main symbol of this summer’s World University Games through the streets and squares of Stavropol.
“Your emotions run rampant when you run with the Torch! I’m very happy that they chose me to be a Torchbearer in our city. This mission was simultaneously pleasant and responsible,” Irina Potapova, a student of Stavropol State Medical University and Torchbearer, shared.
“The whole ceremony of the Torch Relay went beautifully and magically,” remarked Igor Rubitel, the Torchbearer and the North Caucasian Federal District’s silver medallist in basketball. “I will definitely come to the Universiade in Kazan to root for the Russian national basketball team!”
The Torch Relay in Stavropol concluded with the lighting of the City Cauldron in the square in front of City Hall on Fortress Mountain. The final Torchbearer, 14-time champion of Russia and world champion in multiathlon, Kirill Tsybizov carried out this honorary mission.
“The Torch Relay is a symbol of the union of our students,” said Ivan Ulyanchenko, Stavropol’s First Deputy Mayor. “Today the Relay went along the city’s historical places and the Torchbearers carried the Flame through Stavropol’s educational institutions. Our athletes achieve high results in Russia, as well as at world competitions. We are sure that they will give their best performance at the Universiade in Kazan.”
Talgat Tagirzyanov, Deputy Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Tatarstan, greeted the citizens of Stavropol on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Tatarstan. “It is with great pleasure that I participate today in the Stavropol Torch Relay. I would like to thank the governments of the city and the region for a successful delivery of the Relay-related events. We are waiting for all of you in July at the Universiade in Kazan!”
At the end of the Torch Relay, Talgat Tagiryanov handed replicas of the 2013 Summer Universiade Torch to Sergey Osadchy, Deputy Chairman of the Stavropol Krai Government, and Vladimir Trukhachev, Rector of Stavropol State Agrarian University. One of the torches will now be kept in the Stavropol State Union Regional Studies Museum.
The next city on the Russian leg of the Torch Relay is Pyatigorsk.
(Source: Kazan 2013 Media Dept.)
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