FINA President: All that Kazan has done to promote sports is superb

(KZN.RU, June 16, by Renat Shirmanov). A presentation of Kazan as a candidate city for hosting the 2015/2017 World Aquatics Championships was given at the Kazan City Hall. Tatarstan’s President Rustam Minnikhanov and the Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin told the Evaluation Commission about the capital of Tatarstan.

The FINA Evaluation Commission arrived in Kazan yesterday. The President of the International Swimming Federation Julio Cesar Maglione, the FINA Executive Director Cornel Marculescu, a member of the FINA Bureau and the Vice President of the European Swimming League Gennady Aleshin, the FINA Head of Marketing and Broadcasting Peter Hall arrived in the capital of the Republic.

The distinguished guests visited several facilities at which the World Aquatics Championship could be held. They also became acquainted with the hotel and transport infrastructure of the capital of Tatarstan. Later, a presentation of Kazan as a candidate city to host the 2015/2017 World Aquatics Championships was given at the Kazan City Hall.

President Minnikhanov greeted the FINA delegates with a welcoming speech. He reminded the guests that Kazan is going to host the World Summer Student Games in 2013, with more than 13,000 athletes expected. The program of the Universiade will feature 27 events, including water polo, diving, synchronized swimming and diving.

Mayor Ilsur Metshin gave Julio Cesar Maglione and his colleagues more details about the preparation of the capital of Tatarstan for the Universiade-2013 and the World Cup-2018

According to the mayor, in addition to good infrastructure, Kazan’s plus is the fact that swimming is a very popular here. "Many people go to swimming pools, and I swim about a kilometer every day. Our water polo club "Synthesis" is Russia’s champion and the winner of the prestigious Len Trophy. Some 40 swimming pools operate in Kazan, and holding this world championship here will be a big step towards promotion of these sports,” said the Mayor of Kazan.

Ilsur Metshin also noted that despite the fact that Russia has trained a galaxy of famous athletes - Vladimir Salnikov, Alexander Popov, Maria Kiseleva and others - it has not had the opportunity to host a FINA championship. "I do hope that Kazan will be the first in the history of the country to host the world’s strongest swimmers,” said the Mayor of Tatarstan’s capital.

After attending the presentation, the President of the International Swimming Federation Julio Cesar Maglione wished Tatarstan and Kazan success in their endeavors. It is worth noting that Kazan was the only candidate city to be visited by Mr. Maglione.

"During his meeting with the Prime Minister of Russia Vladimir Putin, Mr. Maglione expressed great confidence in Tatarstan and all that is being done here. The Russian Government will give full support to the Republic in its endeavors. Kazan is a great, constantly developing, where different religions coexist in harmony. It is getting better each day. What has been done to promote sports here is just superb," said the president of the International Swimming Federation.

It will be recalled that the host cities of the two world championships will be selected July 15 at the meeting of FINA, held within the framework of the 14th World Aquatics Championship in Shanghai. The final vote will be preceded by short documentaries about the competing cities. Kazan’s bid film is called "Speed of Life”, filmed by the famous Hollywood director Rupert Wainwright.

Russia’s rivals are Mexico’s Guadalajara, China’s Guangzhou and Hong Kong, and Canada’s Montreal, which lays claim only to the 2017 championship.