The Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin met with students of the Moscow State
Institute of International Relations. He shared the experience of the capital
of Tatarstan in major international events, cooperation with cities around the
world under different partnership and twinning agreements and invited to take
an internship at the Kazan Mayor’s Office. The lecture was attended by more
than 80 second-year students of state municipal administration program.
Opening the meeting, Ilsur Metshin noted that the capital of Tatarstan
is called a city of students – there are 32 universities and 16 thousand
students, while 44% of the city's residents are under 35 years old.
Over the past 10 years, many major international events were held in
Kazan, which have become a real driver for the development of the city, I.
Metshin noted. Summer Universiade 2013 kicked
off the transformations. The Mayor of Kazan shared the experience of the
capital of Tatarstan in bidding campaigns to the implementation of the project.
The head of the capital of the republic of Tatarstan said that thanks to this
event, the city infrastructure was developed, in particular, 64 sports venues
were built and reconstructed. In addition, 62 km of new roads and 11 transport
interchanges were built, as well as Ak Bars Arena stadium for 45,000
spectators.
On the morrow of the Universiade, the capital of Tatarstan hosted 2015 FINA
World Championships, 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup matches and 2018 FIFA World
Cup. In 2019, Kazan hosted the 45th WorldSkills Championships.
Rodion Maksimovich, a student, interested about use of venues built for
these events. Ilsur Metshin stressed that the entire legacy of the Universiade
and following events is actively used by citizens. Moreover, over the years,
the number of residents of different ages engaged in sports has increased –
they have become more than 50%.
Now the city is preparing to host Games of Future international tournament
in 2024. Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, Kaluga and the federal territory Sirius
took part in bid campaign to host large-scale competitions in 16 disciplines.
The prize fund will be 25 million dollars. It is expected that up to 150
million people worldwide watch the Games online. Before it, Phygital Games are held
in esports disciplines at Kazan venues.
Ilsur Metshin paid special attention to the activities of the United
Cities and Local Governments world organization, which includes more than 300
thousand municipalities, regions and cities from 140 UN countries. Since 2006,
the Mayor of Kazan has headed the Eurasia section of the world organization,
whose office is located in Kazan. In 2019, I. Metshin was elected President of
the UN Advisory Committee of Local Authorities (UNACLA), in 2022 he was
re-elected for a second term. The Mayor of the capital of Tatarstan spoke about
the bid campaigns, the exchange of experience between the municipalities and
major events of the UCLG.
One of the major annual events is the Kazan Digital Week Forum. Last
year, it brought together more than 18 thousand people from 65 countries. The
Kazan Summit International Economic Forum will take place in May with the
participation of more than 6 thousand people from 64 countries.
Student Ivan Fesyuk asked the head of the city about forming a team on
these projects. “During the events, an experience was formed that allowed to
set new goals and reach new heights. And any failure or unsuccessful bid can
also become an incentive for this,”- the Mayor of Kazan replied.