Preparation of Universiade competition venues in Kazan to begin in mid May 2013

A two-day workshop for directors for sports included in the 27th World Universiade programme has today opened at the premises of the Tatarstan Ministry of Youth Affairs, Sports and Tourism. Attendees at the opening were first deputy minister, Azat Sharapov, deputy minister, Khalil Shaikhutdinov, and others.

The Universiade infrastructure was practically complete, organisational issues becoming the priority, A. Sharapov said while making welcoming remarks.

“We set an ambitious task for ourselves, for Universiade in Kazan to be the best Universiade ever,” he enhanced.

The Universiade organisers would within at most one month have to resolve issues related to personnel recruitment for each competition venue, Kazan 2013 first deputy director general, Azat Kadyrov, said.

“Each of us, and the project as a whole, bears a great responsibility,” he told the workshop attendees. “This is the first multisport event in the recent history of Russia. The global sports audience’s attention will be drawn to Russia, to Kazan,” A. Kadyrov said.

The first sports venues would be handed over to the directors for free use on 15 May. Besides test events, scheduled for next spring, three exercise sessions were due to take place, he added.

“They will include rehearsals of one full day of Universiade,” the official explained.

“Our main task is to ensure a same standard in organising all events in all sports in all venues,” Azat Kadyrov stressed.