KAZAN, Tatarstan, August 24 (Itar-Tass) — Kazan, the host of the 2013 World University Games (2013 Universiade), will meet the games’ flag on Wednesday.
A source at the Kazan mayor’s office told Itar-Tass that the flag of the International University Sports Federation (FISU) would arrive in Kazan at 19:00 Moscow time on Wednesday.
Kazan’s Mayor Ilsur Metshin received the flag from the mayor of Shenzhen, the venue of the 2011 World University Games, upon their completion. Rustam Minnikhanov, the president of Tatarstan, will meet Tatarstan’s delegation returning from China at the Kazan international airport.
“We’ve been fighting for this right for a long time,” Metshin said. Only the second attempt was successful. In 2008, Kazan won the right to host the games.
The symbol of the World University Games will be kept in the armour safe that will be put on display for the residents and guests of Kazan.
The flag of the World University Games will be presented to thousands of city residents on Kazan’s central square on August 30. After that, the flag will start its tour of the student towns of Russia.
The World University Games were held in Moscow in the summer of 1973. In 2011, they will take place in Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan, on July 6-17 in 13 mandatory and 14 additional kinds of sport.
About 13,000 young athletes from 170 countries are expected to participate in the games.