84% of Tatarstan students play sports systematically

Active development of student sports allows winning at international competitions.

(KZN.RU, March 19, Ksenia Shvetsova). 84% of Tatarstan students are systematically involved in sports and physical education. The competition between athletes from universities in Kazan and other major cities of the republic is constantly growing. Due to this, young Tatarstan athletes won 8 medals at the competitions of the XXIX World Winter Universiade, which was held in Krasnoyarsk from 2 to 12 of March, said Vladimir Leonov, the minister of Sports of the RT. Universiade could reach a different level in the future and become a sports tournament between universities, rather than national teams, he said at the briefing in the Cabinet of ministers of the RT today.

The first winter student games in the history of Russia have gathered more than 3000 athletes aged from 17 to 25 years from all over the world. 76 sets of awards were played in 11 sports at competitions. In total, the Russian team took 112 awards and won first place in the medal standings among the participating countries. The Russian team included 25 Tatarstan sportsmen in five sports: skiing, snowboarding, figure skating, hockey, and ball hockey. They took 8 medals: 4 golden ones, 3 silver ones, and one bronze.

The good results of young Tatarstan athletes show that student sports are developing in the republic, noted Vladimir Leonov. Today 84% of students are regularly engaged in physical exercise and sports, 10 thousand people regularly participate in sports and athletics games, win in 6 sports leagues. “Today, student sports are on the rise. There is a lot of competition between universities in Kazan”, said the minister of Sport of the RT. “We have a large resource base and a large sports reserve. The results of the Universiade show that we will have a victory at larger competitions: the World Championships, the Olympic Games. In my opinion, the Universiade will become a competition between universities”.

“We support this point of view and will be glad to such a decision. But it must be understood that any student who wants to participate in international competitions is subject to very high requirements in terms of his academic performance. If a student has a debt of more than a year for at least one exam, then the rector should expel him”, added Yusup Yakubov, the rector of the Volga State Academy of Physical Culture, Sports, and Tourism.

The Volga Academy was represented by 10 student-athletes and 7 volunteers at the Student Games. In total, students are trained in 19 sports at the academy, including three winter sports. “We are interested in the development of university sports. That’s why we participate in international and All-Russian Universiades, various tournaments where our athletes-students usually become leaders”, said Yusup Yakubov. “International practice brings a culture of big sports to the students. Students see what is happening in the world of big sports, and this becomes a great springboard to further development for them”.

Last year, the team of Russia in Olympic sports included 17 Tatarstan residents. Athletes of the republic won 73 medals at national and international competitions. “There is a large systematic work of all interested structures behind these successes and medals”, believes V. Leonov. In recent years, Tatarstan pays great attention to the development of sports infrastructure: sports grounds, modular ski bases, ice arenas are being built. For example, the ice arena recently opened in Yudino Settlement. “Now we are at the stage of development of a project for the construction of a figure skating center, which is very needed in such a large city as Kazan”, added V. Leonov.

In addition to the athletes, 5 thousand volunteers took part in the Universiade. A thousand of them were from other cities who came to the games from 36 countries and 62 subjects of Russia, including 50 from Tatarstan. “The team of the RT included not only experienced volunteers, but also those who are just starting their volunteering experience”, noted Almaz Askarov. the head of the delegation of volunteers of the RT at the XXIX World Winter Universiade. He added that interesting tours and walks and visits to cultural events were organized for the volunteers as a motivational program. Volunteers of Tatarstan were involved in key positions: an attache of national delegations, an attache of the family of the International University Sports Federation FISU, function supervisors, volunteers of the sports program, medical volunteers, volunteers of the protocol service, and others. “We are happy to attend the winter student games. The Universiade is not just a competition. It is a very deep, inspiring event that touches the soul of each participant”, said A. Askarov.

“The athletes of Tatarstan in the Russian national team have shown a worthy performance, we congratulate them. They carried a great load, winter sports are not as popular as summer ones. In general, the Universiade was held at a high level and opened another location in our country, and Tatarstan actively participated in this”, summed up the Minister of Sports of the RT.