100 days to go to Kazan 2015

Right after the cars were parked near the Kazan Arena Stadium, Tatarstan's Sport Minister shared his impression of the motor rally ride. "Nearly 200 vehicles will be provided by AvtoVAZ, the partner of the Championships. The cars are very comfortable, and I'm confident that passengers will enjoy their ride in them," Vladimir Leonov said. After a few words of welcome, he moved onto the next subject - the overall readiness for the 2015 FINA World Championships. "It's safe to say that we are 85-90% ready. All venues and the entire infrastructure will be fully ready in June. Speaking about the operational aspects of the preparation - I mean logistics, workforce and volunteers - I'd like to particularly note that we have a very good legacy represented by the Directorate which is still up and running and has huge experience of staging international sporting events," the Minister said. 

Vladimir Leonov took journalists on a short tour of the Kazan Arena Stadium where works are currently underway to set up a temporary canopy. 70% of it has already been assembled. "Kazan Arena is the centrepiece of the upcoming Championships. It's one of the best sports venues in our country, it's our pride. This summer it will become a competition venue for the world's best swimmers and synchro swimming performers. We can see even as we speak that everything comes out very beautifully. A canopy, temporary seats and dividing wall will be set up here until late April and we will begin installing two 50-metre pools, 2.2 and 3 metres in depth. The total seating capacity during the competitions will be nearly 12,000 people. We will use the venue's entire infrastructure: it has all necessary facilities to arrange meals provision, transportation services, workplaces for judges and so on. And of course, it's really convenient for us that Kazan Arena, Water Polo Arena, Aquatics Palace and FINA Water World Park will be located in the same cluster," Leonov informed. 

Sales of the official Kazan 2015 merchandise were also launched as part of the 100-days-to-go celebrations. The KhoroShow flagship store, which is located in Ostrovsky Street, the very heart of Kazan, was first to open its doors to all water sports fans. In the near future, the licensed products will also be sold on the official website www.kazan2015.com, at 10 official Championships outlet stores, at the Kazan International Airport and at retail shops of the Republic of Tatarstan. Russia's 20 best licensed product manufacturers are expected to be part of the Kazan 2015 licensing programme. Among them are FSUE Goznak, OOO Holograms - Security Technologies, OOO Trading House Materik, OOO Business Information Technologies, OOO Kazan Souvenir Products, OOO Jewellery Enterprise Almaz, OAO Lytkarino Optical Glass Factory, OOO Integral, OOO Status-A, OOO Russian Souvenirs, OOO MegaLine, OOO YUVENKO INVEST, OOO Info-City Company. 

“Currently, around 30 different products are available for purchase. That’s just a small part of it, there will be about 100 products overall. The rest of the products will be put on sale as soon as they are produced. Right now, the stores offer small merchandise, tea gift sets, mugs, head wear, pens, balloons and flashlights,” Mikhail Zotov said. 

The final game of the 'What? Where? When?' Intellectual Quiz has also been timed to coincide with the 100-day landmark. It took place at the Ekiyat Puppet Theatre. A set of its questions was dedicated to the upcoming international aquatics event. 

On the occasion of the 100-days-to-go countdown, the team of Kazan 2015 Ambassadors will be joined by several new members. The Ambassador titles will be granted to Russian pop singer Egor Krid and famous standup comedian Timur Batrutdinov. The official Kazan 2015 Ambassador scarves will be handed to them during a special event, which is scheduled to be held on the main stage of the MEGA Mall on April 19. The Kazan 2015 symbol, the capsule filled with water from the Kazanka River, will be put on a public display there as well. In September 2014, it was launched into space to travel to the International Space Station (ISS) and spent 167 days there.The opening of the Kazan 2015 symbol display area will also be attended by another would-be Kazan 2015 Ambassador - Alexander Samokutyaev, austronaut and commander of the spacecraft that took the Kazan 2015 symbol to the ISS. The awarding ceremony will also be held for winners of the 'What? Where? When?' Intellectual Quiz and students of art schools who took part in the Water of Life Art Contest. Their paintings will be displayed at the Mega Mall between April 19 and May 1.