State awards of the Republic of Tatarstan presented to winners of London Olympic Games at the Kazan Kremlin

The Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov presented state awards of the Republic of Tatarstan to winners of London Olympic Games. Chairman of RT State Council, Chief of the republican Volleyball Federation Farid Mukhametshin took part in the awarding ceremony.

“We have gathered here to mark a very important event – completion of London Olympic Games. We have certain achievements and wins. We understand that you did your best to win,” the Tatarstan President said.

“You bring fame to our country and republic. You are our pride. We are glad that the Russian President appreciated contribution of each of you,” Rustam Minnikhanov said, noting that the republican leadership also tries to award winners of the Games.

On behalf of the republican leadership, Rustam Minnikhanov addressed words of gratitude to sportsmen and everyone who had made contribution to these wins. He reminded about big sport events that would take place in Tatarstan in the coming years, i.e. Universiade, World Aquatics Championship, World Football Championship, and noted that much attention is paid to development of sport in republic.

To the point, the Russian team came in fourth place in the overall team ranking. Russian sportsmen won 82 medals - 24 gold, 26 silver, and 32 bronze. Of 22 sportsmen who presented Tatarstan 10 came back with medals, 7 – with gold.

Orders “Of Merit for the Republic of Tatarstan” were awarded to champions of London Olympic Games, players of the Olympic volleyball team and volleyball club “Zenit-Kazan” Nikolai Apalikov and Aleksandr Volkov, and chief coach of the Russian volleyball men’s team and volleyball club “Zenit-Kazan” Vladimir Alekno.

Medals “For Valorous Labour” were handed to champion of the Games, member of the Russian Olympic synchronous swimming team Elvira Khasyanova; silver medalist of London Olympic Games – 2012, member of the Russian Olympic fencing team Kamilla Gafurzyanova; bronze medalist of the Olympic Games, member of Olympic tae kwon do team Aleksei Denisenko; bronze medalist of the Games, member of the Russian Olympic trap shooting team Vasily Mosin; chief coach of the Russian synchronous swimming team Tatyana Pokrovskaya, and coach of Kamilla Gafurzyanova, Vice-President of the Russian fencing federation Ildar Shaimardanov.

The title “Honoured worker of physical culture of the Republic of Tatarstan” was given to coach of Vasily Mosin, chief coach of Tatarstan’s trap shooting team Sergei Demin.

The Tatarstan President also expressed gratitude to Stanislav Khan, coach of Aleksei Denisenko.

Elvira Khasyanova thanked republic’s leadership for help in training sportsmen and assistance in sport development. She also wished Tatarstan sportsmen to win more golden Olympic medals.

Vasily Mosin noted that “there could not be other results in republic where the president is the Honoured Master of Sports.”

Vladimir Alekno said that presentation of state awards is a high assessment for everyone who contributed to these wins.