“We do everything to make the Universiade-2013 in Kazan become an unforgettable occasion”

Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev granted an interview to Interfax agency in March.

Mr. Shaimiev, the Council for development of physical and culture and sport under the Russian Federation President was held in Sochi on March 23. Which questions on preparation for the World Student Games were discussed at the session?

M. Sh.: All key questions on construction of sport sites were discussed. The fact that preparation for the Universiade and the Olympics-2014 were discussed at one session with participation of Russian President demonstrated significance and the status of these large-scale international sport events to be held on the territory of our country. It gives confidence that the events will be organized at a very high level.

At the session we proposed organizing the first All-Russia Sport Forum in Kazan. Tatarstan attaches priority importance to development of physical culture and sport.

Mr. Shaimiev, could you tell in details what stage has the process of preparing for the Universiade reached so far?

M. Sh.: First of all, I’d like to emphasize significance of the victory in the bid for the Universiade for us, because it was achieved from the second try. We submitted an application for the right to host the Universiade-2011, but we couldn’t collect the required number of votes. The World Universiade is the second sport event of importance following the Olympics. The mandatory programme of the games includes competitions in 13 main and 12 additional sports: athletics, callisthenics, volleyball, basketball, football, swimming, etc. The organizer of the Universiade is the International University Sports Federation (FISU), which unites 141 countries. The Universiade is held once in two years. Undergraduate and graduate students aged 17-28 can participate in it.

It is remarkable that Russia hosted the World Student Games only once in the Universiade history – in 1973 in Moscow. There is a well-developed sport network in Kazan and the republic. It includes modern sport facilities where international competitions in hockey, football, basketball, water polo, field hockey and other sports are held. Our sportsmen make worthy contribution to development of Russian sport. For instance, twelve Tatarstan sportsmen participated in Beijing Olympics; seven of them returned home with medals, thereof which are golden medals. At the Universiade in Harbin our republic’s sportsmen won 30 medals, the junior hockey team, which is composed mainly of Tatarstan players, became champions.

Approximately 40% of sport facilities are available for holding the Universiade so far. However, a part of them is in need of reconstruction due to requirements of such a high-level competition as the Universiade.

The Tennis Academy will be put into commission this year. The Wrestling Palace and some other sites will be ready as a part of preparation for the Universiade. 64 sport facilities in total are necessary for organization of this sport event.

The question about construction of the Universiade Village has been the most difficult. 8-10 thousand people including sportsmen and coaches will stay there. Russian authorities made a a very significant decision on financing construction of the Universiade Village at the expense of the federal budgetary funds.

All the facilities are built taking into account their further use. Competitions of the highest international class will be held at these sport centres.

Financing of the Olympic sites in Sochi has been reduced by 15 percent due to the crisis. Can it influence construction of sport sites in Kazan too?

M. Sh.: As far as I know, such reduction has covered the whole construction complex in connection with a cut of prices for construction materials. That’s why this measure mustn’t have an impact on putting the facilities into operation in time. Moreover, we are going to present all sport sites to FISU commission a year before the Universiade.

Taking into account the fact that the Universiade is held a year before the Olympics-2014 in Sochi, it is important to show the world how Russia solves these problems of large-scale construction despite the global financial crisis.

Mr. Shaimiev, the republic is learning experience of the countries, which hosted analogical sport events previously. Have you derived any useful information so far?

M. Sh.: Undoubtedly. We had learnt other countries’ experience in preparation and organization of such competitions before participating in the bid for the Universiade. Chinese Shenzhen will host the Summer Universiade in 2011. Our delegation has visited it several times already.

However, the Universiade in Tatarstan will have its own peculiarities. The organizing committee and the Russian Federation Ministry of Sport, Tourism and Youth Policy are thinking over the motto of the Universiade. There are many interesting ideas and proposals, I must say. From my point of view, the motif must focus on demonstration of Russian peoples’ unity, inter-confessional and inter-ethnic tolerance, which provides the basis for stability in the country and is an example for the whole world. The contest for the Universiade main symbol will be announced in the very near future.

On the whole, we are in the optimistic mood. We will do everything to hold the XXVII World Summer Universiade at the highest level of organization and become an unforgettable occasion for all sportsmen and sports fans.

*Sh