Welcome to the Universiade Village!
The Universiade Village has opened its doors to athletes one week before the start of the 27th Summer Universiade.
A grandiose opening ceremony for the Universiade Village took place on 29 June. For a long period of time before the ceremony, sounds of music could be heard on the Village territory as the celebration quickly approached. The modern student campus has been brought to life. There is no commotion even though the festivities are just around the corner. The streets are filled with athletes and volunteers, representatives of various nations are talking and getting to know each other, there’s a barely audible hum coming from the electric cars riding around the village.
Everything started to liven up as night time drew closer, an air of celebration filled the streets. Honorable guests appeared on the Flag Alley – Minister of Sport of the Russian Federation Vitaly Mutko, President of the Federation of International University Sport Federation (FISU) Claude-Louis Gallien, President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin, 1st Vice-President of FISU and President of the Russian Student Sports Union (RSSU) Oleg Matytsin and Mayor of the Universiade Village Farid Abdulganiev.
Their speeches were united in expressing that during the 27th Summer Universiade, the modern Universiade Village will be home for thousands of athletes and they have made sure that everything necessary for their comfort has been taken care of.
The honour of speaking first fell to Minister of Sport of the Russian Federation Vitaly Mutko. “It was with great enthusiasm that the residents of the Republic of Tatarstan and the regional leadership completed the colossal effort to make sure all guests feel at home here. You see how Kazan has completely transformed. New sporting venues have been built, the city has been born anew and a wonderful Universiade Village has appeared,” said the Minister. After these words, Vitaly Mutko thanked the President of FISU, the FISU Executive Committee and the entire family of students for their trust in Russia and in Kazan, saying: “I am positive that the 27th Summer Universiade will make a tremendous contribution to the development and popularisation of university sport. I wish everyone great success and I congratulate you all with the opening of the Universiade Village! Congratulations!”
President of FISU Claude-Louis Gallien continued the series of speeches from the distinguished guests. “I always say that the Universiade is more than just 2 weeks of sport, it is at least a minimum of 6 years of hard work. Six years that we have spent working together. During this time, we have learned to understand each other and we have fallen in love with this city. I want to deeply thank all of the volunteers that are present here. Their work is invaluable and for the duration of the Games they will have a tremendous job to do. But you have two weeks ahead of you and they will be wonderful. I want to state that the 27th Summer Universiade in Kazan is possibly going to become the best in the history of the mankind and it will definitely become the best in your lives. Together, we have something to be proud of. A big thank you to all!” Claude-Louis Gallien’s kind words were warmly welcomed and touched many at the ceremony.
President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov followed after Claude-Louis Gallien with a welcoming speech of his own. “Today we open the Universiade Village. Winning the bid to host the Games did not come easy. We lost the first time but we did not give up. And, of course, I would like to thank our country’s President Vladimir Putin, who approved our next steps, as well as the first President of the Republic of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev, who has also supported us. And victory was ours! I would like to thank the members of the FISU Executive Committee who believed in us. We need to live up to the trust you have placed in us. I also thank the Kazan 2013 Organising Committee, headed by First Deputy Chairman of the Government of Russia Igor Shuvalov, who has been doing everything for the benefit of this competition,” said Rustam Minnikhanov, emphasising that the whole country was involved in the preparations for the Summer Universiade.
“We have spent the last few years working extremely hard. Everything that we see now is the result of a colossal undertaking. I would like to especially thank the residents of Kazan for their patience. It is true that the capital of Tatarstan has been rejuvenated, has changed tremendously and for the better. The most important thing is that the people have also changed. Let these Games remain in the memory and in the heart of every guest! I want us all to be proud that we have done everything possible to make the 2013 Summer Universiade enter the history books as the best Universiade. I congratulate all of you, welcome to Kazan!” The Mayor Ilsur Metshin welcomed everyone present with these kind words.
RSSU President Oleg Matytsin continued the Universiade Village opening ceremony. “Honored colleagues and guests, it is with great responsibility and pride that I am representing here and now the Russian students as members of a single team, and it is thanks to this team that the celebration of the Universiade has come to Kazan and to Russia. We can all take pride in that. During the years of preparation for the Universiade, Kazan has definitely given new impetus to the development of student sport not only in the Russian Federation but in the whole world,” emphasised Oleg Matytsin. He also mentioned new standards in the organisation of the Games and the volunteer movement, created by Kazan, which may become useful to other cities and countries. “The Universiade is not just a sporting event, it is an atmosphere of friendship, an opportunity for the best students from around the world to meet, be together, exchange experiences and become friends. I am sure that in this hospitable house, in the Universiade Village, they will have this unique opportunity. Warmth and hospitality create everything necessary to make this celebration memorable to you, dear students, for the rest of your life. I would once again like to express my gratitude for the opportunity to become a member of a single team. We will all be winners in the end, regardless of the results at the sporting arenas. I wish you all victory, happiness and success!” said Oleg Matytsin.
After their official speeches, Claude-Louis Gallien, Vitaly Mutko and Rustam Minnikhanov proclaimed the opening of the Universiade Village in three languages – English, Russian and Tatar.
The final words in the ceremony were given to Mayor of the Universiade Village Farid Abdulganiev: “Dear guests and the first residents of the Universiade Village! Today we open the Village and during the next three weeks it will be home for all of you. We will do everything we can to make sure this home is comfortable, beautiful, kind and cozy! With gratitude we open the doors to our big home. Welcome!”
The Universiade Village is a residential campus consisting of 28 houses. The overall area of the Universiade Village is 53 hectares, with the area of the residential buildings being 274,000 square metres. The venue is made to house 14,000 people simultaneously. It will be functioning during the Games until July 20. Team Welcome Ceremonies for delegations from various countries will take place in the Village from July 1 to 6.
The Universiade Village is one of the largest venues and is staffed by over 400 volunteers working in 15 different positions. For example, a volunteer reporter will recount the most interesting and unique things that happened in the Village in a given day, while a volunteer of the Technology FA will help provide uninterrupted functioning of the radio control systems at the venue. A risk manager voluntary assistant will see to order and the image of the Games as well as help avoid possible incidents. One of the most numerous groups of volunteers at the venue is the reception desk assistants, who can be found in each house where the athletes and delegates will reside. At the Main Restaurant, the guests will be greeted by volunteer hostesses, who will recommend which of the dishes should be tried that day and will always remember to say “Enjoy your meal!”. The team of transport volunteers will ensure quality as they provide their key service to the participants of the Games.
The Welcome Ceremonies volunteer artists will help conduct the cultural programme at the Universiade Village with the help of the the volunteer entertainers dressed as Uni the snow leopard kitten. The coordinators of the lounge zones will show where someone can spend their free time well and with purpose and where to relax. Additionally, a volunteer fire fighting team consisting of 58 members will also be participating in the Games.
Another special group working at this venue is the attachés to the sporting delegations. 670 volunteers will be meeting their teams daily at the Universiade Village and accompanying them to sporting venues where competitions will be held.
From 29 June to 20 July, the smiling volunteers in red uniforms will perform their volunteering duties responsibly and diligently, making sure that life in the Universiade Village is comfortable, safe and enjoyable.