Sochi Olympics Torch Relay volunteers awarded commendation letters
These people have become part of the Winter Olympic Games. They took part in the Tatarstan leg of the Torch Relay, which took place on the eve of the New Year celebrations. Invaluable experience and the opportunity to watch Olympic history unfold in front of their eyes are not all the gifts that the volunteers have gained.
Today they received commendation letters signed by the President of the Organising Committee for the Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Dmitry Chernyshenko. The solemn ceremony took place in the Main International Centre of the Universiade Village. Deputy Director General and Chief of Staff of the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate Larisa Sulima attended the event as a special guest.
"For the moment, volunteers are mostly young people, university and high school students who are civically active, take interest in everything and want to participate in all major events that take place in Kazan," she said to www.kazan2013.com. "There are also silver age volunteers in the team. But it's the first time we invited employees of the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate to work as volunteers. And I can tell that most of them enjoyed volunteering, and even invited members of their families."
The Olympic Torch Relay became the longest one in the history of the Winter Olympic Games. The length of the route was more than 65,000 kilometres. All in all, the Relay lasted 123 days, two of which were dedicated to the Republic of Tatarstan leg. During this time, the main symbol of the Games visited the sports capital of Russia - Kazan, Bolgar and the island town of Sviyazhsk. 351 volunteers were involved in this leg. Each of them contributed at least 7 hours, the total time reaching 2,368 hours. Volunteers were involved in three functional areas: torchbearer transfer points, the legs of the Relay, and the Organising Committee.
The readiness to be part of the historic event is what unites these people. Memories of the event are still quite fresh. The volunteers gladly shared them with www.kazan2013.com.
"It was a huge and exciting event," said the silver age volunteer Nailya Ibragimova. "It was interesting to watch the Torchbearers, to feel that they get overwhelmed with pride, which was very delightful to see. There were so many spectators. Everyone was happy and proud that the Olympic Flame passes through the streets of Kazan ahead of the Olympics."
"It was awesome! I was a volunteer at the Universiade in Kazan, and then at sporting events in Moscow. I am very glad that I contributed to the Olympic Games by taking part in the Torch Relay," said the international student volunteer Parviz Khodzhiev.
As we've mentioned above, employees of the Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate also worked as volunteers at the Olympic Torch Relay in Tatarstan. These people have recently staged the 27th World University Summer Games and have vast experience organising major international sporting events. In recognition of their contribution to the Torch Relay, they will also be awarded commendation letters in the near future.
The Olympic Torch Relay is not the end but yet another reference point in the career journey. According to Alexander Karpov, new interesting projects lie ahead of them. "In 2014, we have quite a lot of sporting events - they all fall on late spring - early summer. I am talking about the final and the Russian University Games, 3rd Youth Sports Games, a number of championships in canoe sprint, athletics, fencing, weightlifting. There are also other major tournaments waiting for us. We understand that the bid campaign should be launched now, in the spring, when everyone will wake up after the winter and be up and ready for work. By the beginning of May, selection and recruitment will allow us to finalise the lists and to see who will be involved and what roles they will perform."
A video highligting the top moments of the Olympics Torch Relay was also presented to the audience during the ceremony.