KAZAN – On July 2, the residents of three municipal districts of the Republic of Tatarstan – Tetyushi, Staroe Drozhzhanoe and Buinsk – greeted the Universiade Torch. All in all, 65 Torchbearers carried the main symbol of the Summer Games through the streets of these residential areas.
“I am full of pride for our district, our republic, and our country,”said Head of the Tetyushsky Municipal District Valery Chershintsev. “The Torch Relay is a truly historic event. I am glad that our district is participating in it. I wish victory for our team in Kazan!”
FISU President Gallien with the Universiade Flame
On July 3, the main symbol of the World University Games visited municipal districts on the way of the Torch Relay route – Apastovo, Bolshie Kaybitsy and Kamskoe Ustye.
“Today Apastovo meets the Universiade Flame, which is the symbol of peace, friendship and university solidarity. The Flame has made a long way and has come to our district today. Let the main symbol of the Universiade light not only on the main cup on the Games Opening Ceremony but in your hearts!”, Timur Akchurin mentioned.
Then, on July 4, the Universiade Torch Relay met the citizens of Verkhny Uslon and Zelenodolsk.
Finally, the Torch Relay, A large-scale project of the 2013 Summer Universiade is coming to an end. The symbol of the 27th Summer Universiade has arrived in Kazan!
Behind are 359 days of travel, across 51 cities, and across five parts of the world. The torch was lit in Paris, the birthplace of the Games.
On January 25, the miner’s lantern, after a trip on the ship Sedov, was brought to Russia, to Vladivostok, over 8,000 km from Kazan.
Today, the main symbol of the Games, after being carried by Torchbearers across all Russia, and having visited 30 major cities, is in the Universiade Museum, located in the Universiade Village, and now most of its inhabitants can see it up close.
The Flame was transported on planes, trains, cars, roller skates, bikes, sleds, and sailed on the water. And all this in order to illuminate the hearts of millions of students around the world
Thanks to the unique metal miner’s lantern, the Flame was not extinguished even for a moment during the whole long route.
Today, July 6, FISU President Claude-Louis Gallien and FISU 1st Vice-President Oleg Matytsin brought the Flame in the Universiade Village. The torch completes its journey at the Kazan Arena Stadium where the Opening Ceremony of the 27th Summer Universiade will start at 21.30 and the last torch runner will light the Universiade Flame.
(Source: Media Department of Kazan 2013 Executive Directorate)