Universiade a fresh impetus for Russian sports: official
0 Comment(s)
Print
E-mail Xinhua, July 3, 2013
The upcoming World University Games due in the Volga river city of Kazan will boost the development of Russian sports, head of the country's Students' Sports Union Oleg Matitsyn has said.
"Kazan has built several sports venues, a new airport, the Universiade Village and transportation infrastructure in accordance with international requirements. It was an enormous work and has been fully completed," Matitsyn said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua.
He noted that a considerable sum of international sports events had been held in the capital of Tatarstan republic during preparations for the Games, including some world tournaments and European championships.
The Games, which features 27 sports and has 351 gold medals up for grabs, has become a sort of engine of the student sports in Russia.
"This locomotive must be followed by the carriages," Matitsyn said.
"It will inject strong impetus for the development of Kazan, Tatarstan as well as Russia as a whole," he said.
By receiving over 13,500 athletes and team staff from about 160 countries and regions, the traditions of the all-Russia university championships could be revived and improved, the official noted.
Competitions among the younger generation in the highest level will present a feast of eyes for some one billion audience across the world.
"A man always believes in victory, this is human psychology. This is especially true for everyone in sports," Matitsyn said.
The official reminded that 663 athletes from 72 regions of Russian would compete in the Games and their principal competitors would be Chinese, U.S., Japanese, Ukrainian and British athletes.
Through various cultural programs based on national traditions of Tartar people and other nations of all five continents, people will also have a chance to catch a glimpse of the landscape of Kazan, a city of long history.
"Young people will discover cultures of different regions and everyone will be happy mingling with them in the sport arenas and city streets," Matitsyn said.
The Games would also contribute to promote healthy lifestyle among universities as well as communities around the world.
Once a student at the Beijing Sport University, Matitsyn thanked the Federation of University Sport of China (FUSC) and Shenzhen 2011 Universiade' steering committee for sharing experience in preparations and conducting that type of events.
"When we participated in the Shenzhen Student Games in 2011, we felt your hospitality and warmth. We are the two nations which are always glad to visit each other. I expect the same warmth you'll feel in Kazan," he said.
Matitsyn also reminded about Russia's proposal to host the Winter Universiade in Krasnoyarsk in 2019.
The 27th Universiade is slated for July 6-17.
Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)