Athletes’ Village key handover ceremony takes place at the meeting of Heads of Delegations

Athletes’ Village key handover ceremony took place on April 5th, 2013 at the concert hall of the Main International Center. The key was handed over to Mayor of the Athletes’ Village Farid Abdulganiyev. The ceremony was attended by President of the International University Sports Federation (FISU) Claude Louis Gallien, First Vice-President of the International University Sports Federation (FISU), Head of the Russian Student Sports Union Oleg Matytsin, Minister of Construction, Architecture and Housing of the Republic of Tatarstan Irek Faizullin, First Deputy Director General of Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate Azat Kadyrov as well as heads of foreign sports delegations. 

Opening the ceremony, the FISU President noted that the construction that had begun 5 years ago had significantly transformed the city. It happened when Kazan had won the right to host the 27th World Summer Universiade 2013.  According to him, it was a great challenge and the Athletes’’ Village was the first facility to be constructed and accommodate more than 13 thousand people. “And I must say that you have done your best”, he said addressing these words to the designers and builders.

“The opening of the Athletes’ Village is a very important event for all of us”, added Oleg Matytsin. He wished the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate to make the Village a model of hospitality and comfort for all the participants of the Games.

Azat Kadyrov expressed his gratitude to all those who “transformed the city”. Minister of Construction, Architecture and Housing of the Republic of Tatarstan Irek Faizullin agreed with him admitting that three years ago there had been a bare place at the site of the present Village, which is now unrecognizable thanks to the coordinated work of the team of “Kazantsentrstroi”. The fact that the task was not easy was also admitted by Director General Rinat Safin, and he added that the Athletes’’ Village had been the most significant Universiade Venue in terms of construction.

 “We are grateful for this gift”, finally said Mayor of the Athletes’ Village, Deputy Director General of the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate Farid Abdulganiev. “We will welcome the participants of the Universiade and do our best to make their stay comfortable and welcoming”, added he.

Honoring the achievements of the builders Farid Abdulganiyev handed over the letters of gratitude to Minister of Construction, Architecture and Housing of the Republic of Tatarstan Irek Faizullin and Director General of “Kazantsentrstroi” OJSC Rinat Safin.

The guests of the ceremony including foreign heads of delegations and FISU family members watched a concert where Ambassador of the Universiade, a finalist of the Russian project “The Voice”, honored actress of the Republic of Tatarstan Elmira Kalimullina performed.

It is to be recalled that the Athletes’ Village is the most modern student campus for 28 houses in Russia. There is the infrastructure required for a comfortable stay of students and athletes such as a modern medical center, a public security centre, catering facilities, sports equipment renting facilities, a supermarket, a post office, a pharmacy and even a beauty salon. Since 2010 the Athletes’ Village has been a home to thousands of students of Kazan (Volga) Federal University and the Volga Region State Academy of Physical Culture, Sports and Tourism. The Athletes’ Village will open its doors for the athletes from around the world a week earlier the start of the World University Games on June 29th, 2013.