Tatarstan’s Prime Minister Ildar Khalikov checks transport accessibility of Tatneft Arena sports palace

Tatarstan’s Prime Minister Ildar Khalikov took part in interministerial exercises aimed at testing the transport accessibility of the Tatneft Arena Sports Palace during the Opening/Closing Ceremonies of the 16th FINA World Championships. Among those who also took part in the exercises were Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan and Chief of Staff at the Cabinet of Ministers Shamil Gafarov, Director General of the Executive Directorate for Sports Projects Azat Kadyrov and other officials.

The exercises aimed at testing interministerial coordination during the transportation of client groups to the Opening/Closing Ceremonies of the FINA World Championships. Similar events are held to rehearse response to every possible emergency and provide comfortable conditions for the Championships client groups. According to the plan, official Kazan 2015 buses circulated several routes from the Athletes’ Village, Korston Mall and Hotel, Kazan Arena Stadium to the venue for the Opening/Closing Ceremonies.

In the course of the exercises all the responsible parties simulated their coordination during the transportation of athletes and FINA Family members to the venue for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. In particular, the organisers tested the efficiency of 'safe areas', evaluated the time spent on parking buses near the venue, and rehearsed the maneuvering of buses on the venue's premises. 42 buses in total were used in transportation drills.

Ildar Khalikov discussed with the organisers the order of client groups' arrivals to the Championships Opening/Closing Ceremonies, layout of buses' parking spaces, and other issues related to the circulation of buses around the city.

Tatarstan's Prime Minister added that certain problems may arise when buses will begin transporting the Ceremonies attendees back to hotels. He gave an instruction to thoroughly address this matter in order to avoid many-hour traffic jams at the exits from the parking lot.

Other spectators - local citizens and visitors coming to Kazan - should not have any problems with transport either, Ildar Khalikov said. He ordered to explore all public transport stop options near the Tatneft Arena Sports Palace. "Apart from athletes and the FINA Family, there will be 4,500 regular spectators. Since we recommend people to leave their vehicles at home, we must create appropriate conditions for them to return back home after the Ceremony without any trouble," Ildar Khalikov said.

"At this stage it's important for us to develop a correct timing so that we know exactly when the buses arrive at the venue. We need to closely track the bus schedule, which will enable us to deliver the client groups to the venues without any delay," Deputy Director General of the Executive Directorate for Sports Projects, Azat Galiakhmetov, commented after the exercises.

It should be noted that the parking lot by the Tatneft Arena Sports Palace will be intended only for buses carrying the client groups of the 2015 FINA World Championships. Additional parking lots will be available for the rest of spectators, as well as public transportation, which will be free of charge upon presentation of a Championships ticket on the day of the event.