Kazan celebrated the International Olympic Day with a champion's ardour
Today, on the 25th of June, in the Small hall of the Concert-and-Sports Centre UNIX, KFU, Kazan celebrated the International Olympic Day.
History of this holiday dates back to June 23, 1894, when an International Physical Education Congress was convened in Paris and baron Pierre de Coubertin presented his project – organisational basics of the Olympic Games. The Congress approved of the baron’s proposal to revive the tradition of ancient Greek Olympics and to hold “competitive games, inviting all nations to participate in them” ones in four years. Everything started on that very day: the International Olympic Committee (MOC) was established, Pierre de Coubertin rightly occupied the post of its Secretary General; the Congress took a decision to hold the I Olympic Games in Greece in 1896 … And in 1967 MOC issued a decree to consider the 23rd of June as the International Olympic Day.
The sports capital of Russia took an enthusiastic approach to the Olympic Day celebration. Sports veterans and future participants of Universiade-2013 were invited to this festive event. Guests’ words of encouragement, stirring songs and dances and an extreme cycle trial were only a part of arrangements by which the audience was amazed today.
The Rector of KFU, Mr. Ilshat Gafurov, also took part in the fete. He made a speech and wished sportsmen success, health and great achievements in sport and life.
The Secretary General of the Olympic Committee of Russia, Chairman of the Olympic Council of the Republic of Tatarstan, Mr. Marat Bariev, highly appreciated contribution of Tatarstan to the Russian and world sport. It is generally known that Universiade in Kazan will become the largest-scale Student Games within the entire history of such competitions both by the participants quantity of and quantity of medals challenged for. Mr. M. Bariev thanked veterans (Olympic champions, many-times medalists of Russia, Europe and world who had come to this festive occasion) for our Motherland glorification. And there were quite a number of them, including: shots Vasiliy Mosin and Svetlana Dyomina, former member of the Russian national water polo team, Mr. Irek Zinnurov, world champion in fencing, Ms. Olga Voschakina, participant of four Paralympic Games, Ms. Irina Polyakova and others.
Mr. Marat Bariev awarded a deputy of the State Duma of the RF, graduate of our University, Mr. Ildar Gilmutdinov, an honorary badge of the RF Olympic Committee “For the Merits of Olympic movement development in Russia”. The Rector of KFU, Mr. Ilshat Gafurov, and the Director of the Institute of Physical Education, Sport and Restorative Medicine of KFU, Mr. Iskander Galeyev, were awarded Letters of Gratitude of the Olympic Committee. And the Universiade participants representing the Republic of Tatarstan in the Russia national team (future champions, as they were called today for many times) got Letters of Encouragement and Uni talismans.
Recall that about two dozens of KFU students and graduates were included in the Russian national team, and some of them attended today’s fete. We managed to speak with the student of the Institute of Physical Education, Sport and Restorative Medicine, Mr. Ruslan Samitov. He will participate in triple jump competitions. “It is the first time that I’m taking part in the Universiade,” said the sportsman. “The goal to become a national team member was set as early as six years ago, and stage by stage I was steady in this purpose. And now the purpose is achieved… It is very exciting, I am afraid to make any forecasts…”
Ruslan called a silver medal won at the European championship this winter his main victory and shared his dream – to become an Olympic champion. The sportsman underlined that the University had always met him halfway and he felt his alma mater’s sympathy for his sports career. And, of course, support of his friends and family greatly helps, as well.
We wish track and field athlete Ruslan Samitov and all over sportsmen victory!
