The 27th Summer Universiade Kazan, Russia, came to an end with the official closing ceremony on July 17, 2013. The closing ceremony was held in the presence of the volunteers, participants, local spectators and highest officials, including Mr Dmitri Medvedev, the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation. In his energetic address, he expressed his happiness and gave special thanks "Thank you athletes, coaches and participants, and thank you volunteers for your performances."

And the volunteers indeed did a great job in Kazan - over 20.000 of them, coming not only from Kazan and Russia, but also from all parts of the world, contributed significantly to the success of the event. While the closing ceremony encompassed a vibrant cultural and entertainment programme, special focus was also given to the hard-working army of volunteers.

The 27th World University Games was a record-breaking one, with 27 sports, 11.785 participants coming from 159 countries. The most successful was the home Russian delegation, winning 292 medals (out of which 155 were gold). This Universiade will not only be remembered by the highest number of participation so far, but also for the new sports records broken - 46 new Universiade Records were set in athletics, 45 in weightlifting, 40 in swimming and 27 in shooting sport.



The event, which is the second largest sports event in the world, lead only by the Summer Olympics, this year received also a lot of media attention and coverage from all around the world, increasing the popularity and promotion of university sports on a global level.

In the closing words the mayor of Kazan Mr Ilsur Metshin noted "These twelve days represent the triumph of sports, beauty and harmony. These twelve days have changed Kazan forever." He also mentioned the legacy which is to mark Kazan also long after the Universiade - "I am certain that the legacy of Kazan Universiade will continue with further improvement of sports for young people, healthier lifestyle as well as with growing integration of the world student community."

"Russia opened its heart to the youth of the entire world, and the heart of Russian Sport was beating here in Kazan, the ‘green’ city, the beautiful city," the President of the International University Sports Federation (FISU) Mr Claude-Louis Gallien said, closing the event. “Dear friends, we will never forget you! On behalf of the FISU Family, I thank you from the depth of my heart!”

When the Universiade flame was extinguished, the FISU Universiade Flag was symbolically passed to the hosts of the next Summer Universiade Gwangju, Korea. "It was the most wonderful, successful, grateful Universiade in the world. As the mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City and Chairperson of 2015 Gwangju Universiade Organizing Committee, I will do my best for a success, as you Kazan!" Gwangju Mayor Mr Un-Tae Kang said in his speech.

The European University Sports Association (EUSA) is proud to have been present in Kazan, takes pride not only in its members participating in the largest international student event in the world with large numbers (and winning several medals), but also in the fact that the Russian Students Sport Union (RSSU), FISU and EUSA member federation, played an important part in organising the Universiade in Kazan.

For more information, please see www.kazan2013.ru and www.fisu.net.