Foreign sports delegations highly appreciated the preparations for the Universiade 2013
On April 4th, 2013 heads of the official sports delegations invited to Kazan to the presentation of the 27th World Summer Universiade, visited a number of the Universiade Venues. They visited the Basket-Hall, the Central Stadium, saw the Athletics Arena and the Rowing Center, and walked through the streets of the Athletes’ Village and looked into one of the houses of the campus. Representatives from France and Canada were the first to share their impressions with the journalists.
According to the visitors the tour left a nice impression, despite the snow. According to Head of the French delegation Vincent Rognon Kazan had thoroughly prepared for the Universiade. He said that currently in France it is very hard to promote such projects as those being implemented in Russia. According to him the entire infrastructure of the Games is very well designed. The airport is located in the vicinity of the city, and the Venues are conveniently located from each other. “We have a great team - continued Vincent Rognon - and we are very pleased to be able to comfortably stay in the Athletes’’ Village”. The guest from France highly appreciated the decision of the Russian government to introduce a visa free entry during the Games. According to him, it will improve the emotional spirit of the team, and “will save power for enhanced preparation for the Universiade”.
“Today, we have examined the Venues. They are worth the best examples of the Universiade level”, added Head of the Canadian delegation Trisha Hanson. She highly appreciated the Rowing Channel and the Athletes’’ Village. She said that she was now sure that the athletes of the national team would comfortably stay in one building. She said that it was very convenient in terms of any organizational issues. “We are already preparing for the Universiade, and begin learning the Russian language”, said Trisha Hanson.
The guests will visit the Gymnastics Centre, Tennis Academy, Burevestnik Swimming Pool and Saint Petersburg Volleyball Centre, and in the evening they will be invited to attend the Athletes’ Village key handover ceremony which is to take place at the Main International Centre. But even now, judging by high spirits of the heads of delegations, it can be concluded that most of them have greatly enjoyed the tour. Some of them are already planning the accommodation and stay of their national teams during the Universiade.
It is to be recalled that the heads of delegations from more than 120 nations participating in the Summer Universiade 2013 have arrived in Kazan for the Games presentation. This event is a long-standing FISU tradition aimed at making sports managers from all over the world familiar with the facilities provided for athletes by the organizers of the World University Games. The organizers present a wide range of services and make the guests familiar with the infrastructure, security arrangements, accommodation and catering facilities, transportation services, etc. In fact, this meeting will play a crucial role in making official applications for the games by national university sports federations. That is why the importance of a successful presentation of Kazan as a host city for the 27th Summer Universiade can hardly be overestimated.