Ufa becomes 30th City on Russian Leg of Torch Relay

Chairman of the State Assembly of Bashkortostan Konstantin Tolkachev holds the Torch while it’s being lit

UFA – On June 18th, the Flame of the 27th Summer Universiade visited the 30th city on the Torch Relay run, as inhabitants of the Republic of Bashkortostan’s host city Ufa greeted the main symbol of the Universiade. The Torch arrived in Ufa after its previous stop in Orenburg. The 38 Torchbearers were the heroes of the Relay, carrying the Flame through the streets of the city.

The length of the Ufa Torch Relay was about 7,300 metres and began in the square in front of the Palace of Youth, where the first torch was set ablaze by Merited Master of Sport and eight-time Paralympic swimming champion Oksana Savchenko. The route in Ufa traversed through 50 Let Oktyabrya, Tsurupy, Lenin and Pushkin Streets, and it ended in Salavat Yulaev Square. The honour of carrying the Torch went to top university students in the city and to famous athletes.

Ufa capped the Torch Relay with the lighting of the City Cauldron in Salavat Yulaev Square. The honorary lighter of the Universiade Flame Cauldron was Rinat Kireev, Master of Sport International Class in Weightlifting, world weightlifting champion and winner at the 2011 Summer Universiade.

The ceremony was attended by Chairman of the State Council of the Republic of Tatarstan Farid Mukhametshin, Chairman of the State Assembly of Bashkortostan Konstantin Tolkachev, Bashkortostan Youth and Sport Minister Andrey Ivanyuta and Deputy Head of the Administration of Ufa Municipal District Ramil Dilmukhametov.

“Today is a historic day in the life of our city and our country: the Universiade Flame has visited Ufa. For the first time in the history of the World University Games, we have a unique opportunity to witness the Universiade’s main symbol, which has travelled tens of thousands of kilometres and visited five continents. The Universiade in Kazan will be attended by representatives of our country. I hope they will contribute to Russia’s medal count,” Tolkachev said.

When the Torch Relay was completed, Mukhametshin handed a souvenir torch to representatives of the Republic of Bashkortostan. 

Ufa became the last city on the Russian leg of the Torch Relay. Next, the main symbol of the Universiade will journey through municipal districts in the Republic of Tatarstan. On June 20, residents of Bavly, Urussu and Bugulma will become the first in the republic to greet the Flame.

(Source: Kazan 2013 Media Dept.)