Kazan pay tribute to Universiade volunteers

The 2013 Summer Universiade became an innovative project in the field of youth policy and sports. An international team of volunteers numbering 19,970 people was formed for the first time in the history of modern Russia. That's the number of young people, who worked at the Games in Kazan. They represented 81 constituent entities of the Russian Federation (37 volunteer centres) and 38 countries of the world. It took Russia's regional volunteer centres two years to select and train the army of volunteers.

Deputy Director General and Chief of Staff of the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate, Larisa Sulima, attended the ceremony to personally thank the volunteers of Kazan State Power Engineering University. "The freshers' day celebration will take place soon in all educational schools. Then we will celebrate International Volunteer Day, plus, Week of Solidarity of students of Tatarstan is expected to be held in the republic. Of course, we will remember for a long time the Universiade, the most important event of this year. It united all: a large number of people was involved in the delivery of this event. The volunteers, those who worked at venues, and many, many others. In the near future, there will be many recognition ceremonies - for builders, power engineers, restaurateurs, hoteliers, our parthers, staff members of the Universiade Directorate. The leaders of each team consider it their duty to thank their employees, because we've accomplished great things, and nothing can be more pleasant than to say thank you to people," said Larisa Sulima.

During the meeting, which took place on the eve of the ceremony, the volunteers shared their experiences and talked about the role the Universiade played in their lives. "The Games Opening Ceremony made the most striking impression on me. I was the one who led the athletes parade, and I had the honour of being the first to step out into the stadium. It was very cool, absolutely amazing: the 45,000 spectators roar and applaud around you. There is a flood of emotions," says Ekaterina Egudanova, the Kazan 2013 volunteer.

Letters of gratitude signed by the rectors were handed to all the volunteers who proved themselves during the Universiade. Now the Games are remembered nostalgically. One thing is obvious - the sporting event was a success, which would be impossible without the help of volunteers.