I. Metshin: "We see Kazan as a city of international significance"

(KZN.RU, November 30, by Ekaterina Andreeva). More than a half of TNV viewers who took part in the electronic voting considered Kazan to be Russia’s third capital. However, Mayor Ilsur Metshin, who made guest appearance on the evening program "Direct link", was of a different opinion about the status of the capital of Tatarstan.

The topic of conversation with the mayor was the changes in Kazan over the past 5 years. As noted in the telecast, this has been the time of intensive development. Most of this progress became possible because Kazan won the right to host major international sporting events: the 2013 Universiade, the 2015 World Aquatic Championship and the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

The mayor pointed out that the federal government had allocated 100 billion rubles to prepare for these events. The funds will be spent not only on sports facilities, but also on the development of transport infrastructure, construction of junctions, pedestrian crossings and three subway stations. All this and much more will improve residents’ life in the future.

"We are doing our best to make people want to come to Kazan. They should come to study, raise families or start a business. Kazan should become a magnet city; a safe, clean and comfortable megacity,” summed up I. Metshin.

The mayor also noted the significant changes that have recently occurred in the sphere of healthcare. Needless to say, the topic of sports was also raised during the program. The city is developing high performance sports and has revived the tradition of mass physical culture and sports. Every year the number of citizens playing sports is growing. Over the past five years, the cultural life in Kazan got a brand new look; it has been enriched by the events of national and international significance. The literary festival "Aksyonov Fest", the international music festival "Creation of Peace", the arrival by the world renowned Cirque du Soleil, the unique museum of the socialist way of life - these and many other events have attracted numerous visitors to the city.

"Our objective in holding the Universiade is to make sure that the visitors to Kazan remember not only its beauty and the excellent organization of the competitions, but also the extensive cultural program," said the mayor.

With regard to the electronic voting, which continued throughout the telecast, the majority (998 of 1845 callers) believed Kazan to be Russia’s third capital; 442 respondents (less than 24%) disagreed with this opinion. Approximately the same number believed Kazan to be a capital, but not Russia’s third. Ilsur Metshin thus expressed his views on the matter: "We see Kazan as a city of international significance"