Yoshkar-Ola welcomes Universiade Torch with celebration

Along the Relay's entire 5,000m route stretching across the central streets and tourist attractions of the city, the main symbol of the Universiade was greeted warmly by the residents of the republic's capital, old and young. The Torch Relay's route passed through the Spartak Sports Complex, where it kicked off, Karl Marx Street, then Voznesenskaya and Sovetskaya Streets, Chavain Boulevard, Patriarshaya and Central Squares as well as the Yoshkar-Ola Kremlin.

The residents of Yoshkar-Ola were greeted by the Keepers of the World University Games' Flame. "We've been taking good care of the Flame handing it over from one city to another, and today we are passing it on, with honour and dignity, from Nizhny Novgorod to Yoshkar-Ola. It is a great honour for us to participate in the Torch Relay as the Flame is the symbol of peace, friendship and student solidarity," underlined Universiade Flame Keeper Eduard Tokar.

The Relay Torchbearers in Yoshkar-Ola were the best students of the city, famous athletes, including the Master of Sport in Swimming, champion and record-holder of the Mari El Republic, finalist of the Swimming Championship of the Volga Federal District Andrey Smyshlyaev; Master of Sport in Swimming, medallist of a Russian Cup stage, finalist of a Swimming World Cup stage Anastasia Mikheeva; European champion in fitness aerobics Maria Izmailova; volunteers, representatives of youth organisations as well as the 2013 Summer Universiade's partner companies. The privilege of lighting the City Cauldron was given to champion of the Mari El Republic, medallist of the Greco-Roman Wrestling Championship of the Volga Federal District Timur Katkov.

"The Torch Relay has created the warmest feelings in me," shared her impressions the Master of Sport of Russia, member of the Russian national team, winner in the all-Russian athletics competitions, Torchbearer Elena Marsova. "This mission is an enormous responsibility. Everyone is looking up at you, and you have no right to a mistake. My impressions of the Relay have inspired me for further sports accomplishments!"

"I would like to thank the organisers of the Torch Relay for the fact that our city has hosted a fantastic sporting event of the international level," says representative of the 2013 Summer Universiade's General Partner – Hyundai, Torchbearer Anna Doikova. "I am overwhelmed with emotions, and the impressions that I got from this event will stay with me for the rest of my life. It is something to tell my grandchildren about! I am definitely coming to the Universiade in Kazan to cheer on the Russian national team at the volleyball and athletics competitions."

Among the honorary guests of the solemn ceremony of the Universiade Torch Relay in Yoshkar-Ola were Forestry Minister of Tatarstan Nail Magdeev; Minister of Sport of the Mari El Republic Vladimir Chumakov; Minister of Health Care of the Mari El Republic Vladimir Shishkin; Deputy Minister of Education and Science of the Mari El Republic Enze Idiatullina.

"I would like to thank the organisers for including our wonderful city in the Universiade Torch Relay route. The Relay's stage in our city has come to an end, but I think that the ideas that it is based on – a healthy lifestyle and engaging in sports – will stay with the residents of our city," noted Vladimir Shishkin.

The residents of Yoshkar-Ola were greeted on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Tatarstan by Nail Magdeev: "Thank you for your warm welcome of the Universiade Flame to your city! I invite you to the World University Games in Kazan to support the Russian national team. Your support will help our athletes win medals at the Universiade."

At the end of the ceremony, Nail Magdeev handed souvenir torches of the Universiade Torch Relay to the city of Yoshkar-Ola.

As early as today the main symbol of the World University Games will set off to the next city of the Torch Relay route across Russia, the capital city of the Chuvash Republic –  Cheboksary, which will be welcoming the Universade Flame on 10 June.

The Universiade Torch Lighting Ceremony took place at Paris-Sorbonne University where the first ‘World Student Games’ were held in 1923. 

The historic moment in the Torch Relay arrived when the Universiade Flame embarked on a round-the-world voyage aboard the world’s largest bark - the tall ship Sedov. On July 15th, the Torch was handed over to a team of navy cadets – the Keepers of the Universiade Flame. Travelling aboard the bark Sedov, the Torch covered 45,000 nautical miles and repeated the route of greatest sailors of all times. 

The Russian leg of the Universiade Torch Relay started off on January 25, on Russian Students' Day. Travelling from east to west, the Flame is carried through Russia’s 30 top student cities such as Khabarovsk, Yakutsk, Krasnoyarsk, Novosibirsk, Tyumen, Yekaterinburg, Kaliningrad, Arkhangelsk, Stavropol, Pyatigorsk, Sochi, Rostov-on-Don, Saint Petersburg, Vladimir, Moscow, Perm, Izhevsk, Kirov, Nizhny Novgorod, Yoshkar-Ola, Cheboksary, Ulyanovsk, Saransk, Penza, Saratov, Samara, Orenburg, Ufa and passes through 43 municipal districts of the Republic of Tatarstan, finishing its odyssey in Kazan on July 6, on the opening day of the 2013 Summer Universiade. 2,013 Torchbearers will carry the Universiade Torch as it will make its way all over the country. 

Universiade Torch Relay partners:

Hyundai Motor CIS is the General Partner and Official Transport Provider of the Kazan 2013 Summer Universiade. Hyundai Motor CIS is an exclusive distributor of Hyundai cars in the Russian Federation. Currently the company owns one of the largest dealer networks in the Russian automotive industry and comprises over 140 automobile showrooms.

Coca-Cola HBC Eurasia LLC is an Official Partner of the 27th Summer Universiade Kazan 2013. The Coca-Cola system is a long-standing partner of some of the world’s most important sporting events and places great emphasis on promoting physical activity and healthy lifestyle around the world. Coca-Cola HBC Eurasia gives a warm welcome to the Universiade Flame in Russia and acts as the partner of the 2013 Summer Universiade Torch Relay.

OAO MegaFon is the General Partner of the 27th Summer Universiade Kazan 2013 and the Russian leg of the Universiade Torch Relay. MegaFon is one of the leading all-Russian universal communications operators running its business in all segments of the telecommunications market in Russia. MegaFon became the first operator with a network covering all regions of Russia. It was also the first national operator to launch 3G network for commercial operation and is currently the leader of mobile Internet services.

SOGAZ Insurance Group is the Official Partner and Insurance Provider of the 2013 Summer Universiade in Kazan. SOGAZ Insurance Group: be nervous only about victories at the games, all other things at the Universiade are insured!

ОАО Aeroflot Russian Airlines is the Official Partner and Official Airline of the 27th Summer Universiade Kazan 2013. Apart from that, Aeroflot is the partner of the 2013 Summer Universiade Torch Relay.

OOO Trade House Forward (FORWARD Sportswear) is the Official Provider to the 27th Summer Universiade Kazan 2013 and official partner of the 2013 Summer Universiade Torch Relay. FORWARD Sportswear is quality, vibrancy, comfort and beautility! Being with FORWARD means being part of achievements and victories of great Russia!