(KZN.RU, August 26, by Taisa Basharkina). The Republic of Tatarstan official delegation and the athletes who participated in the 26th Summer Universiade in Shenzhen, China arrived in Kazan. President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov met the delegates at Kazan international airport.
The Tatarstan delegation headed by Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin brought with them a symbol of the student sports movement - the FISU (International University Sports Federation) flag.
Ilsur Metshin solemnly handed the FISU flag to Rustam Minnikhanov.
"We want this to be a holiday for the whole of Russia, its students, youth sports and the entire country," said Ilsur Metshin congratulating everyone on the arrival of the Universiade in Kazan. "The flag is age-old,” said the head of the city. “It has the name of every Universiade host city sewn on it, and now Kazan has been added to it and to the sports map of the world."
The mayor said, "During the next Universiade in Kazan, we would like to impress the world with Russia’s greatness of soul."
Kazan athletes who made a significant contribution to the overall result of the team arrived along with the official delegation.
The FISU flag was placed in a clear strongbox for demonstration to residents and visitors. The official flag presentation ceremony will take place August 30 during the City and Republic Day celebration. On this day, the FISU flag relay of Russia’s major student centers will kick off fromYarmarochnaya Square. From the capital of Tatarstan, the column will proceed in KAMAZ-Master trucks and in a special railroad car to Izhevsk. The flag, like sport itself, will be in constant motion; it will visit the largest Russian cities, including St. Petersburg and Vladivostok. The journey will end with a presentation in Moscow.