(KZN.RU,
August 14, Alena Miroshnichenko). An expanded meeting of the city
anti-terrorism commission was held the day before in the Kazan Executive
Committee. Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of the Tatarstan’s capital, held the
meeting. On the eve of the WorldSkills Championship, the meeting participants
discussed the readiness of the city’s transport infrastructure, hotels,
security, catering, and events that will be held in the parks and public spaces
of Kazan during the championship.
Oleg
Drozdov, the city prosecutor, Alexander Mischikhin, the head of the Ministry of
Internal Affairs of the RF for Kazan, representatives of the Federal Security
Service of the RT, heads of structural units of the Executive Committee, life
support enterprises, management companies, hotels and hostels of the republic
attended the meeting.
The main
events of the championship will be held from 22 to 27 of August at the
territory of the international exhibition center “Kazan Expo” (competition) and
the stadium “Kazan Arena” (opening and closing ceremonies). Starting from
August 16, competition participants, members of the organizing committee,
experts, tourists and fans from 68 countries and regions will begin to arrive
in the city. “Of course, security measures are in the first place. There should
not be mistakes and miscalculations. Kazan has already begun this work”, said
Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of the Tatarstan’s capital, opening the meeting.
Emil
Gubaidullin, the deputy head of the Sports and Social Projects Directorate and
the project manager of WorldSkills Kazan 2019, spoke about the organization of
upcoming events within the framework of the championship. He reminded that the
championship will be held in 56 competencies. It will bring together 1355
contestants from 63 countries and regions. 3500 volunteers will be involved,
about 1000 media representatives are accredited to cover the championship.
“The main
object of the championship Kazan Expo is scheduled to be ready for August 16 by
the time when all sites are given to international experts”, reported the
speaker. He added that the installation of surveillance cameras on the
perimeter fence is ending today. Preparatory work is also being completed at the
stadium “Kazan Arena”, where the opening, closing and awarding ceremonies of
the world championships will take place. According to E. Gubaidullin,
rehearsals started there today, and a general rehearsal of the opening ceremony
and testing of the road closure are scheduled for August 21.
“It is
planned that the international exhibition center will receive about 44 thousand
organized visitors. 32 thousand are representatives of the city, 6 thousand are
from the regions of the republic and about 6 thousand people are organized
visitors from the constituent entities of the Russian Federation. Guests will
be transported from the Kazanskaya Yarmarka, the Kazan Tennis Academy and the
Kazan-1 Railway Station to ensure security”, said the project manager of the WorldSkills
Kazan 2019.
In
addition, a team of 3500 volunteers from 85 regions of Russia will work at the
championship. About 2900 of them are representatives of Kazan and the republic,
400 volunteers from other regions of the country, 100 international volunteers
from 40 countries of the world, and 100 activists in the volunteer mobility
program. During the championship, about 2500 volunteers will work in the
territory of Kazan Expo; they started to work on August 1.
“I want to
note the high level and scale of the upcoming event. The volume of operations
is impressive, no less than at the Universiade. Of course, we will try to
organize a warm welcome, a safe stay and represent our city to everyone
decently”, concluded Emil Gubaidullin.
Alexander
Mischikhin, the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian
Federation for Kazan, reported on the maintenance of public order and security
at the meeting. He said that a group of employees of the internal affairs
bodies, military personnel and employees of the Rosgvardiya was formed for
these purposes. “They are already working at all facilities, and on August 16,
police will intervene to guard the facilities around the clock”, he said.
A.
Mischikhin also informed that dog handlers and sappers regularly conduct
inspections to exclude the possibility of laying explosive devices, and access
control has been established together with the Rosgvardiya. “In general,
preparations for the championship in security are going on as planned”, he
concluded.
The main
place for accommodation of participants will be WorldSkills Village
(Universiade Village). The guests began to move there from August 1, the peak
is expected from August 15 to 19. However, client groups will also require
hotel rooms in the city. It is planned to use 51 hotels for this. Daria
Sannikova, the director of the on Tourism Promotion Committee, reported the
readiness of the hospitality industry at the meeting.
“Experts of
the Tourism Promotion Committee together with the State Committee for Tourism
of the RT, the Rospotrebnadzor of the RT, the Rosgvardiya, and the Ministry of
Internal Affairs for the RT conducted a complex detour to ensure a comfortable
stay for city guests in accommodation facilities from June 24 to July 4. A
number of problems were identified during the survey of hotels, among which was
the need to update the safety passports of objects”, she said. However, flaws
have already been eliminated in 7 out of 10 hotels, 3 hotels complete this
procedure. D. Sannikova also said that from 13 to 16 of August, employees of the
Tourism Promotion Committee and the Directorate of Sports and Social Projects
will conduct an additional inspection of accommodation facilities.
Azat
Abzalov, the head of the Department of Culture, spoke about the diverse
cultural program that awaits Kazan residents and guests of the capital during
the world championship. About 50 events will be held in republican and city
institutions, theaters and museums, including performances, shows, exhibitions,
and festivals.
Particular
attention at the meeting was also given to transport services during the
WorldSkills Championship. Aidar Abdulkhakov, the chairman of the Transport
Committee, assured that in preparation for the event all the rolling stock of
public transport was brought into proper sanitary condition. “Passengers are
informed in three languages: Russian, Tatar, and English. Drivers and
conductors are equipped with the appropriate form of clothing, and video
recorders are located inside and outside the bus interiors”, he reported. A.
Abdulkhakov also marked that there is a strict access control regime at
transport enterprises and employees train regularly. Particular attention is
paid to the anti-terrorist protection of the Kazan subway. Thus, during the
WorldSkills Championship, it is planned to increase the number of screening
measures for passengers and rolling stock. And the Transport Committee hotline
switches to around-the-clock work: (843) 275-30-50.
“We have
become a major tourist center in the country. And ensuring the safety of guests
and residents of the capital is the most important task for all sectors of the
urban economy. We have done a great job, we have extensive experience in
conducting major events. We have reached a high standard in terms of safety and
comfort. I believe that we will ensure a high level of the championship
together this time as well”, said I. Metshin.