President of Tatarstan participates in final session of the RT Ministry of youth affairs, sport and tourism

“Key mission of the RT Ministry of youth affairs, sport and tourism in 2013 is successful holding of the World summer Universiade in Kazan,” President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov said at a final session of the ministry.

The Minister Rafis Burganov reported on results of work of the Ministry of youth affairs, sport and tourism. In terms of youth policy he noted qualitative leap in development of volunteer movement connected with preparation for Universiade. Currently, more than 50 thousand candidates are registered in the recruiting center.

A number of big youth forums were held in 2012. The biggest one was youth educational forum “Selet”. 3 thousand talented young people participated in the event. In 2013 the number of participants is expected to make 5 thousand.

According to Rafis Burganov, for the last five years more than 500 youth initiatives have been supported via grant programs. Total grant support made 30 million rubles.

Speaking about sport development, the minister informed that 190 sports venues were put into operation in 2012, and total number of objects in Tatarstan reached 9300. The share of citizens regularly doing sports makes 28,7 %. Much attention is paid to handicapped people.

Rafis Burganov said that forthcoming Universiade gave impetus to development of student sport. For the whole period of preparation for Universiade, the number of students going in for sports increased 2,5 times and made 90 thousand people. The Minister stressed that each educational institution had its own sports club. However, some of these clubs work only formally. Therefore, Rafis Burganov suggested establishing a joint student board of sport clubs.
The minister noted personnel problems in sport schools, especially in rural areas.

2012 was successful in terms of development of the republican tourism. For 9 months of 2012 the increase of tourist flow made 12,6 %, the volume of rendered services in the industry increased by 20 %.

Head of Universiade Executive office Vladimir Leonov made report on preparation for Universiade. He said that requests for participation were submitted from 122 countries for 8800 athletes and 3500 members of official delegations. Requests for accreditation were received from 42 media agencies.

10 test events were held in 2012 within the framework of preparation for student Games, 14 events are to be held this year.

Summing up, President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov emphasized that forthcoming student Games was a significant event for republic and the whole country.

Rustam Minnikhanov noted necessity of efficient use of new sports venues. Staff training is another important issue, he said.

The President focused on new line in developing sport infrastructure in Tatarstan for the nearest future. “Besides construction of big sports venues we must make up grounds for mass sports. It is our joint work with municipalities,” Rustam Minnikhanov said. To develop tourism, it is important to reconstruct historical objects and develop tourist infrastructure. Moreover, potential of volunteer movement should be intensively used.