Minister of Youth, Sports and Tourism of Tatarstan Marat Bariev: “We’ll head for Peking in autumn to learn how to hold competitions of world level in connection with preparation for Universiade-2013”.

Tatarstan sportsmen won 3 Olympic Golden medals for Russian team in Peking. Minister of Youth, Sports and Tourism of Tatarstan Marat Bariev told about it today at briefing in RT Cabinet.

As for 12 sportsmen nominated from Tatarstan, 7 of them won Olympic awards of different value at Games-2008. In medal classification among Russian regions our Republic according to preliminary accounts takes 5-6 place.

Medal classification is the following: Gulnara Samitova-Galkina became a world record breaker and Olympic champion at a distance 3000 m with obstacles. Two more Olympic Golden medals were won in group exercises: synchronized swimming - Elvira Khasyanova, rhythmic gymnastics – Darya Shkurihina. Runner Elena Migunova won Silver medal in relay 4х400 m. Track and field athlete Ekaterina Volkova (3000 m with obstacles) and volleyball players Vadim Khomudskih, Sergey Tetyukhin won bronze awards.

Totally, Tatarstan sportsmen came back to motherland with 6 Olympic medals.

In connection with preparation for summer Universiade 2013 that will be held in Kazan, Marat Bariev informed that in autumn Tatarstan delegation will head for Peking to learn the experience of holding competitions of world level and the whole system of organization of service works in various areas (security, reception and accommodation of sportsmen, transportation of sportsmen and guests to competition areas).

According to Mr. Bariev the agreement about such experience exchange was achieved.

In particular, many sport buildings in Peking were built on the territory of institutes of higher education or nearby. Thus, after Olympic Games-2008 these modern sport objects will be used by youth. It’ll make the role of student sport in China more important.

Marat Bariev considers that the same principles should be used while preparing for summer Universiade 2013 in Kazan.

Minister of Youth, Sports and Tourism of Tatarstan thinks that today Russia wants to compete with the leading world sportsmen and we have to create all necessary conditions for our sportsmen. Russia and its regions should reveal the problems that exist in Russian sport today.

Moreover, we have to raise our authority in international sport organizations.

Answering journalists’ questions Marat Bariev emphasized that bonus payment for Tatarstan sportsmen who won awards in Peking are planned to be increased twice. Earlier Republic planned to pay bonuses for Golden medals - 50 000 $, for silver medals – 30 000 $, for bronze medals – 20 000 $.

Special bonuses will be paid to Gulnara Samitova-Galkina for new world record (running for 3000 m with obstacles).

Totally at XXIX summer Olympic Games in Peking Russia won 72 medals (23 of them are golden medals).