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Preparations for Universiade-2013 in Kazan in homestretch

It is expected that about 12,000 athletes from 170 world nations will take part

Photo ITAR-TASS

Photo ITAR-TASS

KAZAN, February 21 (Itar-Tass) —— Preparations for the Universiade-2013 in Russia’s Kazan are in the homestretch – the World Student Games open in 500 days. On Tuesday, the Kazakn-2013 executive committee will announce plans for the remaining period.

Kazakn-2013 director general Vladimir Leonov will speak about the pace of the preparation program. Thus, according to a committee spokeswoman, the majority of 64 facilities needed in line with the standards of the International University Sports Federation have already been built and now are being used in a test regime. Round-the-clock works are underway at the biggest facility – a football arena seating 45,000, despite the cold weather. It is planned to commission the arena in 2012.

“Another important area is the construction of transport junctions in a city with a thousand-year-long history,” said Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin. To resolve the problem, motorway and pedestrian overpasses are being built. “By the Universiade, it is planned to commission the first line of metro. Three more stations will soon be commissioned and then it will take only 22 minutes to cross the city,” he said.

Universiade’s chief stage director Alexei Sechenov will inform about the preparations to the opening and closing ceremonies. These ceremonies will be held at the football arena.

The former Soviet Union for the first time hosted the Universiade, often referred to as the World University Games or the World Student Games, back in 1973 in Moscow. For the second time, such games will be held in Kazan, the capital city of Russia’s republic of Tatarstan, from July 6 to July 17, 2013. Athletes will compete in 13 disciplines, and in 14 additional sports. It is expected that about 12,000 athletes from 170 world nations will take part. The UNiversiade-2013 is expected to draw up to 100,000 guests and tourists.

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