07.07 World University Games Kicks Off in Kazan
KAZAN, July 6 (R-Sport) The 2013 World University Games, or Universiade, officially began Saturday night in Kazan with an extravagant opening ceremony intended to capture Russias ethnic diversity and set the stage for the Sochi Winter Olympics next year.
After warnings that the ceremony would not be ready in time, general producer Igor Krutoy and director Alexey Sechenov pulled off a tightly choreographed show inside the Kazan Arena, replete with esoteric dancing performed mainly by children, cyclists suspended dozens of feet above the ground, and a large dose of local Tatar culture.
The ceremony was attended by a series of top officials, including President Vladimir Putin, who earlier in the day noted that the preparations for the Universaide had given a boost to the development of Kazan itself. Russia has spent $4.5 billion on the event, the second largest price tag in the tournaments history.
With a large Muslim population, Kazan Russias eighth largest is located on the banks of the Volga River some 720 kilometers (447 miles) from Moscow.
Russian Olympic Committee president Alexander Zhukov said Saturday that the Universiade is a prototype for next Februarys Sochi Olympics. Russia is expected to spend about $51 billion on preparations for the Sochi Olympics, making it the most expensive Games of all time.
Saturdays ceremony began with a parade of children and teenagers costumed in the multicolored dress of some of Russias many different ethnic groups. After that a full-piece orchestra accompanied an impassioned rendition of the Russian national anthem and Putin made a brief cameo, waving from the VIP suite before disappearing from view.
More than 10,000 athletes from 166 countries spilled onto an oval walkway encircling the stage as spectators waved plastic torches and, during an aria early in the show, flashed red bulbs in unison, casting a dramatic glow over the packed 45,000-seat stadium.
The Universiade runs July 6-17.
