"Our team performed brilliantly. The result is fantastic. You won 300 medals, including over 150 gold medals."
With Head of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov and Minister of Sport Vitaly Mutko
Admiring a miniature of the Village of the 27th World University Summer Games in Kazan
Visiting the Village of the 27th World University Summer Games in Kazan
Celebrating with volunteers at the 2013 World Summer Universiade in Kazan
In the Main Operations Centre
In the Main Operations Centre
Dmitry Medvedev congratulates members of the Russian national team at the 27th World University Summer Games
Dmitry Medvedev congratulates members of the Russian national team at the 27th World University Summer Games
Dmitry Medvedev congratulates members of the Russian national team at the 27th World University Summer Games
Visiting the Village of the 27th World University Summer Games in Kazan
Visiting the Village of the 27th World University Summer Games in Kazan
Visiting the Village of the 27th World University Summer Games in Kazan
Visiting the Village of the 27th World University Summer Games in Kazan
Visiting the Village of the 27th World University Summer Games in Kazan
Visiting the Village of the 27th World University Summer Games in Kazan
Visiting the Village of the 27th World University Summer Games in Kazan
Visiting the Village of the 27th World University Summer Games in Kazan
Visiting the Village of the 27th World University Summer Games in Kazan
With head of the New Zealand delegation Peter Wardell and Head of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov
With Head of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov and Minister of Sport Vitaly Mutko
The Prime Minister examined a miniature of the Village of the 27th World University Summer Games in Kazan. The village stands on an area of over 53 hectares and comprises 28 residential blocks for 14,500 people, a swimming pool and a tennis academy, a shopping mall, an outpatient clinic, a multifunctional stadium, an international information centre and other facilities.
Dmitry Medvedev also visited the 27th World University Summer Games Museum of commemorative medals, uniforms and mascots of previous Games.
The Prime Minister met with the games’ volunteers and thanked them for their contribution. Around 20,000 volunteers worked at the games in over 40 spheres.
Mr Medvedev also visited the Main Operations Centre located in the Village, which was set up to coordinate the actions of competition organisers and to promptly take decisions in case of emergencies. The centre worked around the clock.
While at the centre, the Prime Minister called the coordinating unit of the Kazan Arena Stadium, which was preparing the games’ closing ceremony. They told the head of government that preparations were proceeding according to schedule.
Mr Medvedev also visited a typical room and a laundry room in the residential block of the Russian team. He then boarded an electric car headed for the restaurant established at the village for the games. The 12,600-square-metre restaurant has seats for 3,500 people and offers several types of cuisine suitable for the ethnic, cultural and religious requirements of the athletes, including European, Asian, Russian and Tartar cuisines.
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Dmitry Medvedev congratulates members of the Russian national team at the 27th World University Summer Games
The meeting with the Russian national team took place in the University Games village.
Dmitry Medvedev: Above all, I would like to say to all of you: well done! Indeed, our team performed brilliantly. The result is fantastic. You won 300 medals, including over 150 gold medals. Perhaps even more important is the fact that you had the opportunity to compete in Olympic-style conditions. The World University Games is a truly international competition. The competitions are continuing even now. The swimming events, the rugby-sevens and shooting are going on. We are rooting for our athletes at this moment but I think what has already been achieved can help us make certain conclusions, which are as follows.
First of all, these Games, the first University Games in Russia, prove that we are able to organise competitions of this kind. It is also a personal victory for each of you. You have demonstrated your best qualities.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude on behalf of the huge number of Russian fans who support and admire you greatly. I would like to also thank the coaches, who have contributed so much to your excellent results. Your performance was superb. Many of you won three gold medals. You have established yourself as potential winners of future championships and the Olympic Games. Some of our teams hold all the prizes in their sports.
However, this is not a reason to relax and become complacent. More competitions are ahead, most importantly, the Olympic Games. What you have accomplished will surely contribute to your further athletic career.
Next. I would like to stress here in this village – perhaps, this is the wrong word for the place, let’s call it a future campus – how important it is that now we can organize and host such competitions. I would like to thank, on behalf of the Government and on your behalf, all the residents of Kazan and Tatarstan for creating such excellent conditions for training and competitions, for building such excellent facilities. I have just visited the cafeteria. Everything is beyond praise. A high standard was set for the upcoming competitions – particularly, the Olympic Games in Sochi – that our country will host in the future.
Kazan’s experience has made us consider the possibility of hosting the winter university games in our country. We will discuss this possibility and, in the event of a positive decision, we will make our entries for the forthcoming host city contests.
I would like to say it again: well done. This is only the beginning of your careers. You are young, strong and beautiful. It is great that your triumphant victory took place here, in your home country, and at these perfectly organised competitions.
On behalf of the millions of Russian fans, I would like to thank you for your success at the World University Summer Games in Kazan. I wish you happiness and the best of luck.
If someone wants to say something, please go ahead.
Anastasia Bliznyuk (winner of all-around rhythmic gymnastics competition): Dear Mr Medvedev, on behalf of the rhythmic gymnastics team I would like to thank you for the wonderful accommodations provided. Our team did not live in the Olympic village at the London Olympics, so this is the first time we are living under such conditions. We liked everything a great deal. As our coach Irina Vinter told us, she walked into this cafeteria, and the food here was better than at a five-star hotel. That’s why I would like to say thank you very much, thank you, our country, our fans! I am happy to have performed here, I am happy that the University Games were held in Russia. I hope this will not be the last time, but I am going to keep the memories of these University Games all my life. Thank you!
Dmitry Medvedev: Good luck!
Remark: The winner of the one hundredth medal, a sambo wrestler.
Dmitry Medvedev congratulates members of the Russian national team at the 27th World University Summer Games
Dmitry Medvedev: The hundredth medal brings good luck.
Pavel Rumyantsev: (winner of the sambo competition in the under 90 kg weight category): I am very happy that it is Russia that is hosting these events, because these days it is indeed very difficult to drag kids away from their computer screens, and all that – such arrangements, such wonderful hosting, will help encourage children to play more sports. I think this is the most important thing about such events. That’s all I have to say. Thank you!
Dmitry Medvedev: To be honest, it is pleasing that everything has been running so smoothly. I would like to thank you again. But we are also going to see the closing ceremony today, it’s going to be beautiful as well. Once again, I appreciate the efforts of all those who took part in hosting this festival of sport – residents of Kazan, residents of Tatarstan, in general, all the residents of our country, and the volunteers, who did an awful lot. Overall, it worked out very well, it's true, and I am very happy that everything was done at such a high level. I simply feel very proud. This is certainly an inspiring example to follow for a great number of boys and girls who will probably not move away from their computer screens all together, but some of them might, and will really take up sport, which is truly important for all of us.
Thank you very much! I was truly very happy. Wishing you happiness and success!
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Dmitry Medvedev visits new Aviastroitelnaya metro station in Kazan
Visiting new Aviastroitelnaya metro station in Kazan
The Prime Minister entered the Aviastroitelnaya metro station through a turnstile outfitted with screening equipment. On the platform, he inspected an interactive map of the city and the metro that passengers can use to chart their movement to their destination. Information is provided in Russian, Tartar and English.
The Prime Minister then boarded a train and went to the next station, Severny Vokzal, in the driver’s cabin.
He also used the free Wi-Fi.
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The Kazan metro opened on August 27, 2005 during the celebrations of the 1.000th anniversary since the city’s establishment. It is considered one of the safest and shortest in the world. It has only 15.8 kilometres of lines and services around 73,500 people a day.
Visiting new Aviastroitelnaya metro station in Kazan
The Kazan metro currently has 10 stations: Aviastroitelnaya, Severny Vokzal, Yashlek, Kozya Sloboda, Kremlyovskaya, Ploshchad Tukaya, Sukonnaya Sloboda, Ametyevo, Gorki and Prospekt Pobedy. The last station of the central line, Dubravnaya, is yet to be built.
New stations – Aviastroitelnaya, Severny Vokzal and Yashlek –opened ahead of the 27th World University Summer Games to service the increased number of passengers during the games and are suited to people with special needs.
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Dmitry Medvedev speaks with FISU President Claude-Louis Gallien
Dmitry Medvedev speaks with FISU President Claude-Louis Gallien
Transcript of the beginning of the meeting:
Dmitry Medvedev: I will tell you frankly that, today, I have taken a walk, watched the competitions and visited the Village of the World University Games. And I take with me some very good impressions. I would like to sincerely thank you for your participation and for helping organise the World University Summer Games in Kazan. And I absolutely agree with you that it won’t be that simple for us to hold the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi at the same level as the games in Kazan. The organisers of future World University Games will probably find it quite hard to follow the line, which has been charted here. But maybe this is good because all University Games should become more and more interesting.
Claude-Louis Galien (via interpreter): I believe that, at least once, the World University Games will be held at this level. I think that this will be the World University Games in Krasnoyarsk.
Dmitry Medvedev: Let’s discuss this in greater detail.
<…>
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Dmitry Medvedev’s address at the closing ceremony of the 27th World Summer Universiade in Kazan
The closing ceremony of the 27th World Summer Universiade in Kazan
The closing ceremony of the 27th World Summer Universiade in Kazan
The closing ceremony of the 27th World Summer Universiade in Kazan
The closing ceremony of the 27th World Summer Universiade in Kazan
The closing ceremony of the 27th World Summer Universiade in Kazan
The closing ceremony of the 27th World Summer Universiade in Kazan
The closing ceremony of the 27th World Summer Universiade in Kazan
The closing ceremony of the 27th World Summer Universiade in Kazan
The closing ceremony of the 27th World Summer Universiade in Kazan
The closing ceremony of the 27th World Summer Universiade in Kazan
The closing ceremony of the 27th World Summer Universiade in Kazan
The closing ceremony of the 27th World Summer Universiade in Kazan
Good evening, Kazan. Good evening, participants of the World University Summer Games. Good evening, fans. Heherle kych (“good evening” in Tatar).
We will soon live through some emotional and sad minutes. We are saying goodbye to the University Games 2013. It was a great honour for us to host these Games and do so in Kazan. I thank everyone who made this wonderful sports festival possible. I thank the athletes. I thank the coaches. I thank the volunteers. And, finally, I thank Kazan. These memorable days would have been impossible without you all.
To all those who competed during these 12 days, I say: Well done! You represented your countries and displayed skill, a great desire to win and the energy of youth. Please hold on to these qualities for the rest of your life. There will be numerous successes and achievements in your life, but sports victories are special. They require a lot of work and pave the way to elite sport and stellar careers for many. I wish all of you luck.
I’d like to express my particular gratitude to all those who have made Kazan the true capital of the University Games. I am sure that our guests will have fallen in love with this fine city for the rest of their lives. The University Games have left behind new roads, metro stations, and, of course, sports facilities, which will be training venues for both children and adults and where new champions will be raised. It is very important that a barrier-free environment has been created at all our sports facilities and that they are accessible to people with disabilities.
There are thousands of volunteers here at the stadium today. It is you who made life truly comfortable for both athletes and fans. Your hospitality, cordiality and friendliness will remain a cherished memory for all those who visited Kazan during these days.
Let me say a few words about the fans. While watching the University Games on TV and here at the stadium, I was struck by the gusto with which the fans supported their favourites. It was the fans who helped them win. And it is thanks to them that Olympic standard results rather than student results were achieved in many sports.
I think that the Universiade in Kazan have become a very worthy prologue to the Winter Olympics in Sochi. Some even more serious trials are in store for athletes, coaches and, let us be honest, for our country as well. We should do our best to make the Winter Olympics a spectacular sight and a grand show. The 2014 Games should be in keeping with the Olympic spirit and the best traditions of Russian and world sports.
And more: honest competition, team spirit, trust and mutual help are things needed not only in sports but in everyday life – in relations between people and countries.
I hope that you believe in yourselves, continue to enjoy sports and stay good friends with each other. Hopefully every one of you has found at least a bit of luck here in Kazan, be that a victory, a medal or the chance to explore this wonderful city. Finally, I hope that all of you have made new friends or, perhaps, even found love.
Be happy! Keep winning! Until next time!
