Gref: “Kazan has built one of Russia’s best, if not the best, sports infrastructures”

An official ceremony, to open the 10th russain summer Sberbankiada, a corporate sports competition held by Russia’s largest financial organisation, on Sunday took place in Kazan.

Attendees were Sberbank of Russia president Herman Gref and President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov.

Participants of the competition are 24 teams, 17 of which represent Sberbank territorial branches, as well as teams from subsidiaries in Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Belarus, financial organisation’s central staff team, Volksbank International team, Troika Dialog and Sberbank Leasing mini football team.

The financier athletes will compete in swimming, badminton, lawn and table tennis, basketball, volleyball, chess, track and field, mini football and billiard.

“It feels very good that a Sberbank’s landmark event is taking place in Kazan in the run-up to Universiade,” Rustam Minnikhanov said in his welcoming remarks. He noted that the competition was a good opportunity to regulate organisational issues related to the upcoming World Student Games.

“It matters a lot to us that Sberbank chose Kazan to hold their anniversary competition. It is a double pleasure, since when we bid to host Universiade, Herman Gref strongly supported us. I think that everything that we are doing is to benefit the development of sport, health and our country,” he stated.

After the official ceremony, journalists asked H. Gref why Kazan had been picked out as the host city.

“Kazan today, owing to the efforts of the government of Tatarstan, is one of the most advanced cities and, no doubt, owing to the preparation for Universiade has built one of Russia’s best, if not the best, sports infrastructures. I and President of the republic agreed to in the run-up to Universiade give a live test to the personnel. All these factors testify to that our place is this year here.

I am very grateful to Rustam Minnikhanov and his team. We feel at home here. Everything is great, up to the highest standard,” Herman Gref said.