KAZAN – Three days on Tatarstan soil and the Universiade Torch Relay has already visited 9 towns of the south-east of the republic. The Flame was given an amazing and emotional welcome in Bavly, Urussu, Bugulma, Aznakaevo, Leninogorsk, Almetyevsk, Sarmanovo, Muslyumovo and Aktanysh.
An unbelievable atmosphere accompanied the Torch Relay when it passed through the municipal districts of the republic. As the participants of the Relay admit, locals packed streets along the route of the Flame to greet it by holding placards with the names of the villages the Torch was travelling through.
Those towns where the Torch Relay celebrations are held draw huge crowds of local residents. The Torch Relay has to make its way through a sea of people. The festivities grow in size and popularity to such an extent that the weekdays when the Torch Relay arrives in this or that town are declared holidays or have reduced working hours. There is a tough competition among candidates nominated to carry the Torch and their names are often confirmed personally by heads of municipal districts.
On June 23, the Universiade Torch Relay embarked on its next leg – on the water, with a yacht carrying it across the Kama River from Menzelinsk to Agryz.
More towns and larger crowds are yet to welcome the Torch Relay and its team on the days left until the start of the Games as the Flame continues its epic journey through municipal districts of Tatarstan.
(Source: Kazan 2013 Media Dept.)
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