Tatarstan athletes receive parting pep talks and good luck charms

On the cusp of the 27th Summer Universiade, Kazan Volga Federal University held a student gala called 'Olympic Day', which was attended by members of the Olympic Council of the Republic of Tatarstan, students and athletes competing for the Russian national team at the Games.

Ten Tatarstan athletes selected for the national team at the Universiade took the stage to receive a pep talk from Marat Bariev, who is the First Deputy Chairman of the Russian Federation State Duma Committee on Physical Culture, Sport and Youth Affairs, Secretary-General of the Russian Olympic Committee and Chairman of the Olympic Council of the Republic of Tatarstan. Also addressing the athletes were Minister of Youth Affairs, Sports and Tourism Rafis Burganov and Irek Zinnurov, the head coach of the Sintez water polo team and a participant in the 1995 Summer Universiade.

"Eleven days separate us from the day of the opening of the Universiade, and 10 days separate us from the start of competition. Tomorrow, a panel from the Russian Sport Ministry will convene, and there the phase of preparing for the Universiade will be crossed off, and the next phase, conducting the Universiade, will get under way,” said Rafis Burganov. “Of course, the fact that the Universiade will be held in Tatarstan places heightened responsibilities on the people standing on stage and their colleagues."

 
The Minister pointed out that at the last Universiade, in China, where 302 medal events were held, the host country needed to win 75 gold medals in order to be victorious in the overall medal count. At the Universiade in Kazan, 351 sets of medals will be up for grabs, so the bar will be much higher.

"Standing here before us are the strong young men and the attractive, captivating young women who will defend our country’s honour at the Universiade venues in Kazan. Although these fine folks are experienced athletes, they are no doubt on edge, and they all know that it is more taxing, more difficult to appear before the home crowd. May the warmth from the stands help you display your prowess and help you place at the top in the upcoming competitions. And as the General Secretary of the Russian Olympic Committee, I want to say that in three weeks the Universiade will be finished, and in three years, the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro will begin. May the Universiade be a milestone on your path, and we'll see you again in the Olympic arenas," Marat Bariev said.

Drawing on his experience of competing at the Games, Irek Zinnurov urged the participants to strive for victory with everything they have. "The Universiade is a huge sporting event. You have to go out there to win, to come out on top! My wish is that the Universiade will be your springboard to making the national team for the European and world championships and the Olympics, as it was for me. I would love for you to make it to the Olympics and bring glory to Russian sport, Tatarstan sport and Kazan sport. "

All the Tatarstan athletes on the Russian national team for the Games were given a farewell sendoff and a stuffed toy Uni, the mascot of the 2013 Summer Universiade, for good luck.

Winners of the Principles of Fair Play in Sport contest held by the republic received their prizes at the event. Khalil Shaikhutdinov, Tatarstan’s Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs, Sport and Tourism, offered some words of salutation. "I sincerely congratulate everyone attending this festival of sport. Olympic Day is being observed in all the towns and districts. We are certainly looking forward to the Universiade in Kazan, where Tatarstan will be worthily represented in terms of quantity as well as quality. Good luck to all the athletes," he said.

Sergey Dyomin, head coach of the Tatarstan trapshooting team and manager of the Summer Universiade trapshooting competitions, greeted the winners, saying that with the results of the Russian Championships, completed June 24, four more Tatarstan athletes had made the national team for the Games.

As a reminder, 53 Tatarstan athletes will compete in 18 of the 27 sports being contested at the 27th Summer Universiade.

Olympic Day was attended by 30 Kazan 2013 volunteers. They welcomed representatives of the Olympic Council of the Republic of Tatarstan, famous Olympians from the republic, veteran athletes and, of course, the young athletes who will defend the Russian team’s honour at the 2013 Summer Universiade. After the event, Marat Bariev addressed the volunteers. He thanked them for their participation in the festivities and wished them well on the job at the Universiade.