Rustam Minnikhanov speaks at plenary session of Fair Play Congress: Nobility and Achievements in Sports

On July 18, speaking at a plenary session of Fair Play Congress: Nobility and Achievements in Sports, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov said that promoting physical culture and sports are priorities of the social policy of the Russian Federation and Tatarstan.

The Congress is being held at the Korston Hotel & Mall in Kazan and timed to coincide with the awarding ceremony of the Fair Play International Committee to be held tomorrow on July 19, 2014 at the Pyramid Culture and Entertainment Complex, Kazan.

FISU First Vice-President and RSSU President Oleg Matytsin, who is the moderator of the International Congress "Fair Play - Nobility and Achievements in sports", introduced participants of the plenary meeting, who delivered their welcoming speeches to the congress. They are First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma, President of the Russian Olympic Committee, Member of the International Olympic Committee Alexander Zhukov, President of International Committee for Fair Play Jeno Kamuti, President of Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation, Chief Coach of the Russian national rhythmic gymnastics team Irina Viner-Usmanova, Yvan de Navacelle de Coubertin - a descendant of Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the International Olympic Committee and other officials.

Welcoming participants of the event, Rustam Minnikhanov said that the Congress aims to create a sports culture, religious and racial tolerance through sport.

“We appreciate that the idea of holding this event was supported by a number of international and Russian public government organizations. Our city has also become the venue to host one of the most prestigious events in the world of sport, the awarding ceremony of the International Committee for Fair Play,” Rustam Minnikhanov said.

According to Rustam Minnikhanov, promoting physical culture and sports are priorities of the social policy of the Russian Federation and Tatarstan. The republic has made active promotion of a healthy lifestyle its policy. "The successful holding of the Summer Universiade in Kazan in 2013 was another step to attract public attention to the unifying role of sport," Rustam Minnikhanov reminded.

He also said that this year Kazan has hosted major international sporting events, such as European Badminton Championships, Junior World Weightlifting Championships, and the World Fencing Championship (it will be open today, on July 18, 2014).

According to Rustam Minnikhanov, the World Fencing Championship is a landmark event for the republic. He thanked the President of the International Fencing Federation Alisher Usmanov for choosing Kazan to host the championship.

“I hope that the results of the Fair Play congress will be valuable to the world of sport. I am sure that events of the Fair Play International Committee, which will be held in Kazan, will give a new impetus to Fair Play movement strategy and contribute to the promotion of Russia's sports image on the international scene,” Tatarstan President said.

Then, President of the Russian Olympic Committee Alexander Zhukov and President of International Committee for Fair Play Jeno Kamuti handed in awards of the Russian Committee for Fair Play to outstanding athletes and figures from the world of sport.