Dmitry Medvedev: "The University Games were not just a wonderful festival of sport, but also a test for our large student team. So I’m glad to congratulate you on all your achievements. Millions of our fans love you and are proud of you."
Dmitry Medvedev’s opening remarks:
With the winners of the XXVII World Summer University Games 2013
Awarding the winners of the 27th World Summer Universiade 2013
With the winner of the rowing and canoeing competitions Alexander Nikolayev
With athletics medalist Anastasia Savchenko
With swimming medalist Artyom Lobuzov
With sambo medalists Yana Kostenko and Alexander Kuchumov
With wrestling medalists Yekaterina Bukina and Valeria Kozlova
With gymnastics medalists Maria Paseka, Alia Mustafina and Emin Garibov
With weight lifting medalists Olga Zubova, Tatyana Kashirina and Oksana Slivenko
With rhythmic gymnastics medalists Anastasia Bliznyuk, Olga Ilyina, Anastasia Nazarenko and Margarita Mamun
With the winners of the XXVII World Summer University Games 2013
Good afternoon, dear friends. I’m very glad to see you again. Although it's been a while since our last World University Summer Games in Kazan, this is a good opportunity to meet and recall what has been done and congratulate you on your brilliant results.
You're well aware of this already, but still let me recall that our team scored a spectacular, decisive victory: almost 300 medals, more than half of them gold, and all gold medals in two sports.
Dmitry Medvedev: "Our team scored a spectacular, decisive victory: almost 300 medals, more than half of them gold, and all gold medals in two sports. Four Russian students became four-time champions of these Games."
Four Russian students became four-time champions of these Games. Many won three medals each (17 champions) and two each (29). These are excellent results, but for all of you – I remember this from my trip to Kazan – this was not just a wonderful festival of sport, but also a test for our large student team. So I’m glad to congratulate you on all your achievements once again. Millions of our fans love you and are proud of you.
For some reason it takes a long time in this country for awards to reach their winners. I remember this happened during the Olympics and the University Games, but anyway, it is good that we are doing this today.
Before we start the award ceremony, I’d like to congratulate not only you but also your fans, who worried about you, cheered for you and helped carry you to victory. As you are well aware, victory in any sporting event is not just personal success, but teamwork – coaches and medical personnel – also contribute to it, not to mention your families and friends. So I’d like to congratulate all of them.
Dmitry Medvedev: "We agreed to draft programmes of support for Russian Olympians who will take part in the Games in Brazil in 2016 and in Korea in 2018. This is important because this is a non-governmental source of money, in addition to the state budget, and some programmes are funded by it."
Awarding the winners of the 27th World Summer Universiade 2013
Now I’d like to say a few words about what is happening now. Recently, we have made very good progress in developing high achievements in sport. Quite recently, on 20 January, I held a meeting with the participants and partners of the fund to support Russian Olympians. I issued a number of instructions based on this meeting. We agreed to draft programmes of support for Russian Olympians who will take part in the Games in Brazil in 2016 and in Korea in 2018.
This is important because this is a non-governmental source of money, in addition to the state budget, and some programmes are funded by it. We’ll use this fund to carry out the programme on supporting children and youth’s sports schools until 2016. I am bringing this up because there are also state programmes, government decisions and public money, which has not disappeared despite the current financial difficulties. Mr Mutko is keeping watch over this money to make sure that nobody takes it. He’s doing the right thing by fighting to preserve funding for sport from the budget.
Dmitry Medvedev: "The University Games in Kazan have set very high standards for large international competitions. The bar is set as high as it can go, but still we are pleased about this."
Needless to say, the University Games in Kazan have set very high standards for large international competitions. The bar is set as high as it can go, but still we are pleased about this. The main event – the Olympic Games in Sochi – will start next week. I hope all those present will cheer for our team.
In preparing for the Olympics in Sochi, we have used the experience of preparations for the Games in Kazan. I’m referring to the work of the infrastructure, which was very well organised, and volunteers, who were very helpful there. They created a special atmosphere at stadiums and helped both athletes and fans. I think we should present them with awards for their efforts. Mr Mutko, let’s award some of them, at least the best volunteers. Think about this please.
It is pleasant to recall pleasant events. We are recalling the Summer University Games although it is -25 degrees Celsius outside. I’ll repeat that awards do not come instantly – we need time to get ready for the ceremony. I’m not even reproaching those who are responsible for the paperwork. I’m sure you remember these happy moments, and these government awards that I will present to you now will help you retain bright memories of your victories. Okay, let’s start the ceremony.
Dmitry Medvedev’s closing remarks
First, I’d like to congratulate you with these Government awards.
Probably, most of you have received them for the first time because the Honorary Certificate of the President of the Russian Federation is a Government award – not a departmental one – and it is always mentioned in biographies.
Dmitry Medvedev: "We are going to conduct Winter University Games in Krasnoyarsk and I hope the atmosphere there will be good as well. The only bad thing about Kazan was that they fed us as a prize turkey."
Of course, I wish you future success – both in sports and your personal life – although they are inseparable for you. I wish you success in studies and work. Let you always be in good spirits.
We recalled Kazan. It was really great there – both because you did so well and the atmosphere was very good. We are going to conduct Winter University Games in Krasnoyarsk and I hope the atmosphere there will be good as well. The only bad thing about Kazan was that they fed us as a prize turkey. The Minister of Sport and I did not suffer much from overeating because I spent only one day there although this was enough to feel the whole extent of Tatar hospitality. Everything else was absolutely great. I’m sure that not only our athletes but also all of those who came to Kazan liked it there. I think that they are still very well impressed, right?
So, my congratulations to all of you! You’ve done a great job! You put me in a good mood for the whole day on Friday!
