Football marathon started in Kazan

 (KZN.RU, December 1, Renat Shirmanov). In the opening match of football marathon lasting for 2013 minutes, the City Hall team that defended the "Vostok" team won over the team of the Government of RT that performed as part of the "Zapad" team. After 45 minutes the officials were replaced by the students of the city’s youth sports schools.

The next morning in Kazan matched the status of the city - a sports capital of Russia. At 8 am in the Central Stadium football, a unique match has started that lasts for 33 hours and 33 minutes. "One can not imagine the best physical exercises", Rafis Burganov, the Minister of Youth, Sport and Tourism noted exactly in anticipation of the starting whistle.

In the first game of this unprecedented campaign the Kazan City Hall team and the team of the Government of RT met together. Municipal leaders driven by Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor, and their irreplaceable captain, scored six unreciprocated goals in the opponents’ gate. This high-spirited start beared out what Ilgiz Fahriev, the Chairman of the Committee of Physical Culture and Sports said: "Despite the status of the friendly match, there won’t be giveaways; the rules are the same for all".

Football supermarathon is obliged to bring Russia closer to the cherished goal – obtaining the right of the 2018 World Cup hosting, Ilsur Metshin the Mayor of Kazan convinced. "We must recognize that the World Championship is the biggest event in sport world surpassing even the Summer Olympic Games. We want the application of Russia that has never hosted such sports forums to win. We deserve it because football is one of the most popular sports in our country: it is played by adults and children, professionals and amateurs - all", the Mayor said.

When Ilsur Metshin has been asked about the conception of the match with duration in 2013 minutes, he noted, "we have decided not just to sit at the screens and to wait for the results of the voting but to act. I am confident that the results will be positive for us. Kazan that fought for the right to host the Universiade has already a fighting experience on such a high level. It is easier, of course, to support being in the action and having the opportunity to influence on the process. We did everything we could for being an application city and were highly appreciated by the FIFA application committee", the Mayor said.

Recall that the match which has started today at 8 am lasts exactly 2,013 minutes and ends tomorrow for half an hour before the start of the voting that determines the capital of the Football World Championship in 2018. About 1230 athletes will take part in the match; besides playing football they can differ in various competitions with the ball which will take place in parallel with the play.