Ilsur Metshin: "Kazan gives Russia the cause for pride"

(Kazan City KZN.RU, August 4, Zilya Gayfi). Due to FINA World Cup Kazan gives Russia the reason to be proud of its achievements. The past week has shown how huge is the interest to the capital of Tatarstan from the international community. This was announced today during a press lunch with reporters of republican and city mass media by the Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin. The event was also attended by General Director of the Executive Directorate of sports projects Azat Kadyrov and Chairman of the Tourism Development Assistance of the Executive Committee Eugeniya Lodvigova who voiced the interim results of the championship.

"About 380 thousand of 460 thousand tickets are sold. This is good, and yet the semi-finals and finals are onwards. We see a healthy excitement about tickets for all disciplines, and it is a cause for joy. Almost 200 thousand people attended Cultural FINA Park, and about 50 thousand spectators saw the show "Pilgrim". These days championship in Kazan is broadcasted around the world. In total, it made more than 10 thousand minutes of TV coverage. We suppose that the audience of the championship will exceed 4 billion"- Mayor of Kazan began the conversation. Guests of the capital of Tatarstan have been able to appreciate the hospitality and warmth of the city and its inhabitants at Sabantui holiday, which took place last Saturday. According Ilsur Metshin, the holiday has become a pleasant surprise for the guests.

Traditionally journalists were interested in preparation for the championship, in particular how Kazan before the Universiade differed from Kazan today. "In preparation for the FINA World Cup there were no such large-scale works on the road network; we didn’t have to close the main streets and highways, for example, Lenin's Bridge. The very preparation was generally less intense. The President instructed us to hold the championship worthy, and we have built all the work in a way that we clearly knew every step. It was a thrill in preparation for the Universiade, if we can adequately represent the city. Before the start of the FINA, we were already confident in the saddle, and knew how to distribute our power, "- said the Mayor.

Special attention during the preparations for the FINA World Cup 2015 was paid to landscaping, that allowed Kazan to appear in all its glory. "This year, as part of the Year of parks and gardens announced by the head of Tatarstan, over 30 green spaces will be landscaped. The action "Green Record" will be continued in the parks and squares, where we will plant new large trees. We also plan to landscape embankments near the circus, the zoo and the river port, "- shared the Mayor.

Asked about the benefits that championship will bring the city, Ilsur Metshin noted that Kazan has received a new, powerful impetus to the development. "We are not obsessed about sporting events. The other day we go to Brazil, where we will fight for the right to host the World Championship of working professions in 2019. The city is growing, and this is evident not only in the number of renovated facades and planted flowers, but also the people themselves are changing. Therefore, city needs these events; they provide a synergistic effect, "- said Mayor.

During the meeting reporters noted that the residents of Kazan care about sports facilities, which were built for the Universiade and used in the championship. Ilsur Metshin assured that all facilities will be available the residents, in addition, there are plans to build new.

Today Kazan is preparing for the closing ceremony of the championship. The stage and scenery are already assembling at the stadium "Tatneft Arena". Organizers promise to make farewell to the championship merry and musical, in a youth style. Ilsur Metshin said that after the World Cup 2015 and the FINA "Masters" tournament Kazan will meet another new world-class event. "August 19 in the capital of Tatarstan the World Cup in rhythmic gymnastics will start. New members and visitors will come, "- said the Mayor.

Concluding the meeting, Ilsur Metshin said that the capital of Tatarstan has a new ambitious goal - to make Kazan the most comfortable city of Russia. "Due to the FINA championship Kazan gives Russia the reason to be proud of our achievements. We have a unique opportunity to tell everyone about Russia and its people through the representatives of 190 countries of the world ", - said the Mayor.