Minister of Sport Vitaly Mutko has held a meeting with the presidents of international and Russian sports federations.
He welcomed guests and congratulated everyone on the launch of the 27th World University Summer Games in Kazan. In his opening remarks, he stressed that student sport was of particular importance for both forming reserves of high-performance sport and promoting sports culture and healthy lifestyles among young people. “A lot of work has been done in the recent past to update the legal framework for cooperation between the International University Sports Federation (FISU), on the one hand, and Russian and international federations and unions, on the other,” he said.
An awards ceremony was held at the meeting with badges of honour, For Services in Promoting Physical Fitness and Sport, presented to the presidents of international sports federations.
Later in the visit, Vitaly Mutko presided over a number of official meetings as part of the 27th World University Summer Games events.
They included meeting with Lamine Diack, President of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), IAAF Vice President Sergei Bubka and President of the Russian Athletics Federation Valentin Balakhnichev at the Kazan Central Stadium. The meeting participants praised the level of preparations for and organisation of Universiade 2013, and discussed preparations for the World Athletics Championships which will be held in Moscow in August.
Vitaly Mutko also talked to Universiade volunteers, who shared their impressions of the Games and expressed their readiness to work at other major sports competitions scheduled for Russian venues later this year. They also said they were willing to pass on the experience they had gained and to recruit their friends for volunteer work.
While visiting the Palace of Aqua Sports, Vitaly Mutko met with Julio Maglione, President of the International Swimming Federation (FINA), and discussed preparations for the World Aquatics Championships which are due to be held in Kazan in 2015.
Next, Mr Mutko visited the Tatneft Arena Sports Palace, where he met with the heads of Tatarstan’s Judo Federation and discussed the development of this sport in the region.
He also walked around the Universiade Park, where he inspected display stands highlighting the bid by the Krasnoyarsk Territory to host the World University Winter Games 2019 as well as stands representing the nationals sports, history and culture of Russian regions.
Source: Ministry of Sport
