Kazan athletes' village officially opens

FISU president Claude-Louis Gallien, secretary general and CEO Eric Saintrond, members of the executive committee and representatives of the Russian and Tatarstan governments were all present.

"I am convinced that the Universiade will be an engine of growth for sport in Kazan," Vitalyi Mutko, Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation, said.

After visiting the athletes' village, the Main International Centre and the Universiade Museum, the attending VIPs were treated to cultural dance groups and singers.

The village was then officially declared open in English by Gallien, in Russian by Vitalyi Mutko and in Tatar by Rustam Minnikhanov.

"The athletes' village is fabulous and I'm sure Kazan will become the sports centre of Russia thanks to five years of hard work and collaboration between the Kazan OC and FISU," Gallien said.

Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan, added: "It is a pleasure to host the Universiade. I also thank all the people of the city of Kazan for their tolerance after five years of intense work. The Universiade will be one of the biggest ever held. "

The President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov was equally generous with his thanks for those who had put in such an effort.

"I thank all those involved in the organization and members of the executive committee of FISU without whom this would not have been possible," he said. "Through work, the facilities of the city of Kazan are fully modernised."