E. Abdullazyanov, D. Kalinkin, and I. Mukhametshin became the first in the race of honorary guests of the Mayor’s Cup

(KZN.RU, March 3, Alsu Safina). The Mayor's Cup competitions in cross-country skiing Top Sprint started in the international equestrian center “Kazan”. About 200 participants went to the distance of 1800 m not only from Tatarstan but also from neighboring regions of Russia.

The honorary guests ran within the framework of the tournament. The victory went to the rector of Edward Abdullazyanov, the Kazan State Energy University. The winner answered confidently the question of the leaders about how he managed to get ahead of other rivals: “We must set a goal and work out”.

Denis Kalinkin, the head of the Executive Committee of Kazan, was the second to cross the finishing line. The third was Irek Mukhametshin, the head of the Financial Department. The winners received awards from the hands of Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan.

Damir Fattakhov, the first deputy head of the Executive Committee, Rustem Gafarov, the head of the Sovetsky district administration, Ramil Akhmetov, the general director of the City Clinical Hospital №12, also took part in the race of honorary guests.

Competitions for the Mayor's Cup started at noon. Anyone over 17 years old could try their strengths and skills in overcoming the distance of 1800 m freestyle, both beginner skiers and experienced athletes (there are Tatarstan team members among the participants of the competition). In total, about 200 people registered in the Mayor's Cup, including about 40 women.

30 skiers, who showed the best results in the men's and women's races, went to the quarterfinal stage of the competition. Six sportsmen will compete for the victory in two races in the finals. Absolute winners will receive 25 thousand rubles each, ones who take second place – 15 thousand rubles each, and holders of bronze – 10 thousand rubles each. Athletes who have taken places 4 to 6 will be invited to a flower ceremony.

Rustem Safin, the deputy chairman of the Federation of Cross Country Skiing and Biathlon, said the Mayor's Cup is attended by skiers from Tatarstan, Chuvashia, Mari El, and there is also a representative of Uzbekistan. According to him, the format of the competition is interesting because competitions in ski racing have not been held before in Russia at the racetrack. It is planned that the Mayor's Cup in the skiing Top Sprint will become traditional and will be held annually on the first Sunday of March, he added.

A rich cultural program is organized for the audience. The guests were greeted with clowns and barkers in bright costumes at the entrance to the racetrack. The soloists of the Kazan City Philharmonia, folklore groups performed on stage. Also, the dance show “Assorti”, the folk Tatar ensemble “Geller”, the folk dance ensemble “Salavat Cupere”, the children's exemplary choreographic ensemble “Zadorinki”, the students of the vocal studio “7 notes”, the folk chorus “Russian song”, and others performed for the guests.