BAVLY/URUSSU/BUGULMA – The main symbol of the Universiade began its journey across Tatarstan as the first three towns of the republic – Bavly, Urussu and Bugulma – gave a heartfelt welcome to the long-awaited Universiade Flame. A sea of smiling faces and flags greeted the Torchbearers along the entire route.
The first place to greet the Flame of the 27th World University Summer Games was Bavly. 27 Torchbearers journeyed their way through the town, among them students, athletes, representatives of the district’s administration and corporate partners of the 2013 Summer Universiade. 3,000 metres was the estimated average distance travelled through the streets of Bavly by all those nominated for the honour of carrying the Flame. The Relay concluded in the square in front of the House of Culture named after Musa Jalil.
Urussu became the second location to greet the Universiade Flame on Tatarstan soil. 19 Torchbearers were cheered on by hundreds of excited local people when they made their way through the town. Special guests at the ceremony marking the Flame’s arrival in Urussu were Head of the Yutazinsky Municipal District Rustem Nuriev, Deputy Head of the Tatarstan Investment Development Agency (TIDA) Liana Saetova, as well as Head of the Yutazinsky Municipal District Executive Committee Andrey Podovalov. Having run about two kilometres, the Torchbearers passed the Flame to Bugulma.
The overall distance of the Torch Relay in Bugulma was about 5,000 metres. 31 Torchbearers kicked off the run in the square near a sports venue with a symbolic name, Fakel, which means ‘Torch’, and ended on the Energetik Stadium where the City Cauldron was ignited. Attending the celebrations were Deputy Head of the the Republic of Tatarstan Division of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation Elena Polyakova, Head of the Bugulminsky Municipal District Executive Committee Tatiana Nikulina, Head of the Department for Youth Affairs, Sports and Tourism of the Bugulminsky Municipal District Ruslan Garifullin.
The privilege of kindling the City Cauldron was granted to Head of the Bugulminsky Municipal District Ildus Kasymov and Anna Filimonova, world powerlifting champion and final Torchbearer in the Bugulma leg of the Relay.
Following the ceremony, Deputy Head of the the Republic of Tatarstan Division of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation Elena Polyakova presented a replica of the Universiade Torch to Mayor of Bugulma Ildus Kasymov.
Crowds will pack streets next in capital towns of three other municipal districts of Tatarstan – Aznakaevo, Leninogorsk and Almetyevsk – as the Universiade Torch Relay will continue its epic journey, bringing the excitement and magic of the World University Games to all parts of the republic.
(Source: Kazan 2013 Media Dept.)
