I.Metshin: "The fact that 33% of our population regularly play sports is the most...

(Kazan, KZN.RU, July 21, by Adel Galiyev). The sport infrastructure remaining after the 2013 Universiade allowed Kazan to win the title of the most sporting city. The most significant result of the Student Games is the two-fold increase in the number of Kazan residents who regularly engage in physical culture and sports, said Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin at today's Business Monday meeting.

Chairman of the Committee of Physical Culture and Sports of the Executive Committee of Kazan, Ilgiz Fakhriev, reporting on the 2013 Universiade heritage, recalled that in preparation for the Student Games in Kazan, 31 sports facilities were put into operation, 19 of which were overhauled and reconstructed. As an example of the facilities' effective use, he cited the Universiade Village, which was used before and after the Games as Russia's largest student campus. It can be assumed that another result of the Universiade is the two-fold increase in the number of students who play sports – from 20,739 in 2008 to 48,966 in 2013. Ilgiz Fakhriev noted that another significant result of the Universiade is the increased interest in healthy lifestyle. As evidence, he cited statistics according to which during the past four years the number of Kazan residents regularly playing sports has grown twice and reached 33% of the total population.

"The fact that 33% of our population regularly play sports is the most valuable result for us. Just to think that in the past five years the number has increased two-fold! Perhaps we cannot make everybody swim, do chin-ups, run or do push-ups. This is not a matter of compulsion. But in general, the fact that our sports infrastructure has not been idle, that the Universiade has had such a positive effect is most important," said the mayor of Kazan.

Ilgen Fakhriev also said that since the Universiade Kazan has been gradually recognized as an international sports center. "Just this year, our city hosted such major international competitions as the World Weightlifting Championship, the European Badminton Championship and the World Fencing Championship. And soon Kazan will host the 2014 European Cup in Rhythmic Gymnastics, the 2015 World Aquatics Championships, the 2016 European Judo Championships, the 2016 World Junior Athletics Championships, the 2017 Confederations Cup, the 2018 FIFA World Cup and the first-ever World High Diving Cup of 2014," said the committee chairman, listing the upcoming sporting events.

Ilsur Metshin confirmed the popularity of Kazan as a platform for major sporting events. "The sports infrastructure allowed Kazan to win the title of sports city. Increasingly, we hear that Kazan is a sports capital. Previously, we argued that the city could adequately hold any sporting event, but today our organizers choose which international forums, European cups or world championships to hold in Kazan. We are booked up for years ahead," said the mayor.