Ilsur Metshin: "Universiade village will be Russia’s best student campus"

Another 12 objects Universiade will be put into operation in 2010. This told the Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin speaking with the report for 2009 at a meeting of the 48th session of Kazan City Duma.

As the Mayor of the city noted, in the last year for construction of the Universiade only from the federal budget has been allocated 10.98 billion rubles. This allowed to keep busy more than 12 thousand of Kazan builders, developers, suppliers of building materials, the entire construction industry. As a result during 2009 it was built and open 9 objects of Universiade. This are modern ice hockey stadiums, swimming pools and gymnasiums.

This year it is planned to put in operation another 12 the most modern sports complexes. Funding of almost 10 billion rubles is provided by the Government resolution. As a result all populated areas of Kazan will appear conditions for training and mass sports.

This fall is planned putting in operation of two first priorities of building of the Universiade Village, which at the beginning of the academic year can already be occupied by 8 thousand students. The total area of student housing, which will be built in the Village of the Universiade in 2013, is almost 300 thousand square meters. It will be a comfortable student district with the most modern infrastructure - the best student campus in Russia.

The village will be able to receive 20 thousand students. For comparison: for the entire 200-year history of the university in Kazan were built hostels for 15 thousand people.

But the development of sports infrastructure of the city is not limited to preparation for the Universiade 2013. As the Mayor of Kazan stressed, the city authorities are paying special attention to mass sports, the creation of appropriate infrastructure in the places of residence. Thus, until 2006 the city had only 7 plastic hockey rinks. Today thanks to the support of the Government of the Republic and open joint stock company "Tatneft" in the city operate 71 plastic hockey rinks with locker rooms, lighting, coaches.

"The result is available, - said Ilsur Metshin. - If in the 2005 "Golden Puck" and "Leather Ball" tournaments were attended by 500 young Kazan citizens, then up to the 2009/10 season in football and hockey only in the final have played 3300 boys. In comparison with 2000 the number of participants in the "Leather Ball" and the "Golden Puck" has increased in 10 times - from 340 to 3300 people!"

Nevertheless there are serious problems in the preparation of future athletes, the head of the city noted, recalling the disappointing outcome of the Olympics for Russia in Vancouver. "Everyone knows that the stars of large sport grow from youth sport schools. That is why for the education of the champion is so important a good coach at the start of sports career "- he said. Today, according to the Mayor, in Kazan in youth sports schools more than 800 coaches work. Their average age - 54 years, the average salary - 6100 rubles, and the minimum wage that is common to young professionals after university - 4330 rubles." There is much to ponder at the federal level. Otherwise within 2 - 3 years we will be faced with a catastrophic shortage of coaching staff", - considers Ilsur Metshin.