Kazan to host 2015 Aquatics World Championship

(KZN.RU, July 15). Kazan was chosen the to host the world championship in water sports. The fourth most popular tournament in the world after the Olympics, the world football championship and the athletics championship will be held in Tatarstan’s capital from July 17 to August 2, 2015.

The election of the capitals of the Aquatics World Championships 2015/2017 was held today in Shanghai at the meeting of the Bureau of the International Swimming Federation (FINA).

Kazan was presented in a 30-minute presentation by the President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, Russia’s Deputy Minister of Sport, Tourism and Youth Policy Pavel Kolobkov, Executive Director of the Bid Committee "Kazan 2015/2017", Director General of the INO "Executive management" Kazan 2013 " Vladimir Leonov, CEO of the INO "Sports Broadcasting" Vasily Kiknadze, President of Russia’s Swimming Federation Vladimir Salnikov, four-time Olympic champion, IOC member Alexander Popov and three-time Olympic champion Maria Kiseleva.

“To be honest, two emotions overwhelm our hearts. This, of course, is the win - Kazan won, Russia won, the new Russia. 100 per cent of the votes were given to the city. And second, of course, it happened against the backdrop of the tragedy that occurred in Tatarstan,” - Mayor Ilsur Metshin commented on Kazan’s victory. “I would like to send from here in China congratulations on the victory together with my sincere condolences to the bereaved and to say that we have dedicated this victory to all those who have prematurely passed away.”

According to the bid book, the World Championship in Kazan is expected to be held at the following venues: the Water Sports Palace (seating capacity 4,500) for diving, synchronized swimming and water polo (semi-finals and finals); the "Olympus" swimming pool for water polo (women, preliminaries, quarter finals), the “Burevestnik” swimming pool for water polo (men, preliminaries, quarter finals) and the Rowing Center (3,000 seats) for open water swimming. The main cluster of events will be held around the football stadium (45,000 seats), still under construction, and the Water Sports Palace.

Traditionally, the Aquatics World Championship lasts 17 days. During this time, 65 events are held. They are attended by about three thousand athletes from 150 countries, more than a thousand journalists and photographers and some 50,000 tourists. The TV audience may reach 3 billion people.

It is worth noting that Russia has never before hosted an Aquatics World Championship. Moscow bid for the 2013 World Cup, but lost to Dubai.