9 february 2011

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin holds a video conference in St Petersburg on preparations for the 27th Summer World University Games

Vladimir Putin

At a video conference in St Petersburg on preparations for the 27th Summer World University Games

“The Summer World University Games are a major international competition. We won the right to hold the World Student Games in 2008, and the practical work began in 2009. Over this time, the Republic of Tatarstan allocated some of its own funds for the preparations, but the bulk of the funding has come from the federal budget, 25 billion roubles in total.”

Universiade Village

The Universiade Village compound, designed to accommodate athletes and delegation officials during the Games, will occupy 38 hectares within easy reach of points of arrival and the sport facilities.

Unlike other facilities of this type, the Universiade Village will be used as a university campus after the event.

The first complex, opened on August 30, 2010, consists of two campuses with a total of twenty buildings within an area of 187,000 sq m and will accommodate over 7000 people. The FISU accreditation procedure, that will record guest information in a single database, has been tested: 1142 people were checked in within 8 hours.

The first two campuses have been allocated to Kazan Federal University. As of February 7, 2738 students had moved in.

Infrastructure is being built at the Universiade Village site: a 24-hour medical center and pharmacy, postal services, security and quick internet access for all the students. An emergency dispatcher service that receives on-line calls has been operating since the opening day. In addition to the nearby metro station, a new bus line was opened on September 1 and the number of buses on the existing route was increased so that students can get to the university without connections in less than 45 minutes.

The compound has a free swimming pool, Burevestnik, and a tennis academy. In the past four months, Universiade Village has hosted over 30 sporting events.

The third campus (eight residential houses with a total area of 86,000 sq m) will be allocated to the Volga Area State Academy of Physical Culture, Sport and Tourism to accommodate students as well as federal teams which will be preparing for summer events.

In addition to residential quarters, a 45,100 sq m International Information Centre is under construction. It will house the classrooms and laboratories of the Academy. The ground-breaking ceremony for the construction took place on August 2, 2010. During the games it will accommodate the command centre, a square for ceremonies and an FISU museum. The building was designed to minimize the required repurposing for the Universiade.

The third campus and the International Information Centre are scheduled to be opened by September 2011.

Burevestnik indoor swimming pool

Opened in October, 2010. It consists of a 52 x 25 m swimming pool with a depth of 1.8-2.36 m and a 2 meter wide moving wall that separates the swimming pool into two parts as well as a gym with parquet floors for volleyball and basketball, a "dry swimming" room with a universal Regupol sports flooring, and a 15 x 10 m workout room.

The swimming pool has a timekeeping system and an Omega scoreboard, a video screen and booths for commentators.

The complex seats 1000 spectators. During the Universiade, swimming and water polo competitions will be held in the pool. After the Universiade, the complex will be used for regular classes and workouts by the Volga Area State Academy of Physical Culture, Sport and Tourism and for student health activities.

Vatan Sports Complex

Opened in December 2009, it comprises a 58 x 28 m indoor ice arena, and a 120 sq m workout area. It seats 296 spectators.

During the Universiade, the arena will be used for volleyball team training. After the Universiade, it will be used by the Kazan Children's and Youth Sporting School.

St Petersburg Volleyball Centre

Opened in December 2010, it comprises the main 42 x 24 m rink with a seating capacity of 4570 and the smaller rink measuring 42 x 24 m that seats 596.

It will be the venue of Universiade volleyball events and after the Universiade will be used for training by the higher sporting school, the children's and youth sporting school and for competitions.

Football stadium, 45,000-seats

The Football stadium is being built on the banks of the Kazanka River in Kazan's Novo-Savinovsky District. The complex includes a 105 x 68 m football pitch with natural grass, and systems for drainage, watering and heating, four changing rooms for 25 persons each, a training centre, a room for doping control, a 200-seat conference room, a 300-seat press centre and a physical education complex with a handicapped entrance. The 45,000 spectator seats are under cover. The stadium has parking for 4000 cars.

The stadium will host the Universiade opening and closing ceremonies, and after the Universiade it will be used for Russian football championships, international matches, sporting and mass events. The stadium will be included in Russia's 2018 FIFA World Cup bid. The stadium is scheduled to be commissioned in 2012.