KAZAN – A series of large-scale rehearsals called ‘Four Days of the Universiade’ has ended at the Kazan Arena Stadium with a trial run of the Opening Ceremony of the 27th Summer Universiade.
The rehearsal of the Universiade Opening Ceremony tested such activities as the transfer of competitors from the Universiade Village to the stadium and transportation of guests and spectators from the so-called ‘clean zones’, where representatives of the various client groups are screened before being admitted to the stadium. At the outset, people were screened in several clean zones, and from there they were driven to the stadium in special shuttles. As previously announced, the exercise partially blocked traffic on Prospekt Pobedy. However, thanks to the traditionally light Saturday traffic, there were no additional problems on Kazan’s roadways.
The volunteers conducting the drill devoted special attention to managing the flow of spectators coming into the stadium. The results of the exercise showed that with the help of the volunteers clad in their bright red team colours, spectators can easily find their seat in the huge stadium.
The quality of the communications at the venue was tested during the exercise as well. In particular, Tatarstan journalists were able to personally try out the services at the Main Media Centre and in the press tribunes created and equipped for media personnel.
The most important phase of the exercise was the emergency evacuation of spectators. About 3,000 people were evacuated in less than five minutes.
In this fashion, Kazan put the organisers through their paces in the run-up to the Summer Universiade. On June 29, a week from now, the Universiade Village will officially open, taking in athletes from 162 countries. On July 5, the first sporting competitions of the Games will begin, and on July 6 the grand Opening Ceremony of the 2013 Summer Universiade will take place. Events in 27 sports will be spread over 12 days until the conclusion of the Games on July 17.
(Source: Kazan 2013 Media Dept.)
