On June 29th, 2013, the Athletes Village of the Universiade in Kazan was officially opened in the presence of FISU President Mr Claude-Louis Gallien, Secretary General Mr Eric Saintrond and members of the FISU Executive Committee, as well as representatives of the Russian and Tatarstan governments including the Sports Minister of the Russian Federation Mr Vitaly Mutko, the President of Tatarstan Mr Rustam Minnikhanov, the Mayor of Kazan Mr Ilsur Metshin, the President of the Russian Students Sport Union (RSSU) Mr Oleg Matytsin and the Mayor of the Athletes’ Village Mr Farid Abdulganiev.

After visiting the Athletes' Village, the Main International Centre and the Universiade Museum, the attending VIPs witnessed cultural dance groups and singers. The ceremony ended with the speeches of the highest representatives, followed by the Gaudeamus Igitur, the FISU anthem.

The village was then officially declared open in English by Mr Gallien, in Russian by Mr Mutko and in Tatar by Mr Minnikhanov.

Under the licence of the International University Sports Federation (FISU), the 27th Summer Universiade will be held in Kazan, Russia between July 6 and 17, featuring a record number of 27 sports. Apart from 13 compulsory sports, such as athletics, basketball, fencing, football, artistic gymnastics, judo, swimming, diving, water polo, table tennis, tennis and volleyball, 14 optional sports are included in the Kazan 2013 sports programme: boxing, shooting, synchronous swimming, rowing, canoe sprint, sambo, wrestling, belt wrestling, chess, weightlifting, rugby 7, field hockey, badminton, beach volleyball.

EUSA is proud to see both Summer and Winter Universiade in 2013 organised in cooperation with EUSA member associations – the Russian Students Sport Union (RSSU) for the Summer Universiade and the Italian University Sport Centre (CUSI) for the Winter Universiade.

For more information about the Summer Universiade in Kazan, please see www.kazan2013.ru and www.fisu.net.