Rustam Minnikhanov: “Universiade was the main event in sport life of our republic”

On February 1 at a summary session of Tatarstan Ministry of Youth Affairs, Sport and Tourism Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov said that the main result of work in 2013 was successful holding of Universiade.

Russian Deputy Minister of Sport Natalia Parshikova took part in the session.

Making report at the session, Tatarstan Minister of Youth Affairs, Sport and Tourism Rafis Burganov said that World Summer Universiade was the most important event in 2013. 67 sport venues were commissioned, the capacity of venues made 234 thousand people. The number of people doing sports increased and made 32.3 per cent now.

According to Universiade concept, 18 venues were transferred for use to higher educational institutions. For 5 years the number of students who regularly go in for sports increased from 25 to 71.5 per cent. Due to Universiade heritage, 18 children’s and youth sports schools were located at new venues.

Rafis Burganov informed that it is planned to build 300 playgrounds in 2014. He noted that 8 representatives of Tatarstan will take part in Olympic Games in Sochi.

Speaking about youth policy, Rustam Minnikhanov said that a new principle of work aimed at providing new environment for realization of positive potential was developed due to World Student Games. As members of public organisations, young people made considerable contribution to holding of all events and implementation of projects during Universiade.

Projects of youth public organisations received federal support of the agency “Rosmolodezh”, Russian Youth Union for the sum of 6.8 mln rubles.
The project-based approach for providing grant support of initiatives of youth public organisations was implemented in the republic. Tatarstan Government allocated 65 mln rubles for implementation of branded projects.

According to Rafis Burganov, there is a positive sustainable dynamics in Tatarstan tourism industry. For the last three years the increase in the number of tourists coming to Tatarstan made 14.8 per cent. Three tourist information centres and one sightseeing centre are operating in Tatarstan.

150 guests visited World Summer Universiade that helped to improve tourism infrastructure in the republic.

For 11 months the amount of rendered tourist services made 7.6 bln rubles. A large amount of work was done on development of transport, road and hotel infrastructure, two main tourist centres, Bolgar and Sviyazhsk, and reconstruction of historical centre in Kazan.

In cooperation with an Austrian company Kohl & Partner the programme “Development of tourism and hospitality in the Republic of Tatarstan in 2014-2020” was developed to increase inflow of tourists to 3.36 mln people by 2020.

Russian Deputy Minister of Sport Natalia Parshikova said that Universiade gave impetus to development of physical culture and sport in Russia. She thanked Tatarstan leadership and personally Rustam Minnikhanov for making Universiade All-Russia project.

Summing up, Rustam Minnikhanov said that Universiade was the main event in life of our republic. “It is the result of big job we have done. We have gained knowledge, skills and investments,” he added.

Rustam Minnikhanov believes that hospitality industry plays an important role in attractiveness of Tatarstan and Kazan. He thanked workers of sport, tourism and youth policy spheres for their work in 2013.