NEWS

The mascots of the upcoming 2015 FINA World Championships - snow leopards Itil and Alsu - will be meeting visitors at the entrance of the Kazan House.

A lot of pleasant surprises are in store for all comers: souvenirs and even an opportunity to make a virtual tour of Kazan and its major sights - Kazan Kremlin, Kul Sharif Mosque, Syuyumbike Tower and Peter and Paul's Cathedral.

The organisers expect a big turnout as spectators show huge interest in the forthcoming 2015 sporting events in Russia.

A special place is designated in the booth for holding meetings and talks. "The delegation's main task in Montreal is to present Kazan as a multinational and innovative sports city with a rich history and developed sports infrastructure," said Deputy Director General of the Executive Directorate for Sports Projects, Mikhail Zotov.

Kazan and the forthcoming 2015 FINA World Championships will be presented in Canada. The Tatarstan delegation is currently on a visit to Montreal where the 15th FINA World Masters Championships are held from July 27 to August 10. Parc Jean-Drapeau was chosen as the venue for the event. It includes sports facilities that were constructed especially for the Olympic Games and are now put to use during the tournament.

The upcoming tournament will bring together athletes from the following countries: Russia (2), Brazil (3), Bulgaria (1), Colombia (3), Czech Republic (1), France (1), UK (2), Germany (2) Italy (1), Luxembourg (1), Mexico (4), Poland (1), Switzerland (1), Ukraine (3), Belarus (1). The highest number of athletes will come from the United States (7).

When asked about the favourites, Sautin mentioned Harry Hunt.

Artem Silchenko of Russia is a serious contender for medals.

The world’s greatest athletes confirmed their participation in the event. It is already known that Artem Silchenko will represent Russia at the World Cup.

Two-time Olympic diving champion Dmitry Sautin, who had recently visited Kazan and hosted a masterclass for trainees of Kazan’s sports schools, gave an interview in which he shared his expectations for the upcoming FINA High Diving World Cup. The tournament will be held on the left bank of the Kazanka River, near the Palace of Farmers, on August 8-10. It will serve as a test event in the lead-up to the 2015 FINA World Championships.