Fire-fighting and rescue volunteers in action 17.08.2010

It is one of the stages of preparation for the 27th World Summer Universiade that will assemble fire-fighters and rescuers of profession oriented institutions of Russia and foreign states. 15 select teams took part in the first international junior championship. The event drew over 350 entrants and guests. The Kazan Universiade volunteers bear the burden of organising the large international event. The young people were to provide sportsmen’s leisure activities and assist with staging of the competition.

For more details about volunteering activity at the World Fire-fighting and Rescue Sport Junior Championship kazan2013.com interviewed Yulia Novikova – coordinator of volunteers at the tournament.

- What were the duties of the volunteers? What new experience did you gain at the World Fire-fighting and Rescue Sport Junior Championship?
- There were two positions for the championship volunteers: secretaries and chaperones. The major duty of the chaperones was to assist the teams, to solve any problems encountered during their stay in the city. As for the volunteers that worked as secretaries they did all kinds of paperwork: carried out accreditation procedure of the entrants, kept the official record and the score, etc.
12 volunteers were involved in the event and each of them did best so that the championship proceeded without failure. During the Championship we communicated with different nations, learnt about new cultures and traditions. It’s an invaluable experience that may be useful to each of us in future.

- The entrants of the championship were mainly the CIS representatives so there was no language barrier. What about cultural barrier? Was there any?
- Cultural barrier was out of question. Before the tournament the volunteers studied the cultures of the countries they were to work with. And the athletes were well aware of our country’s culture. That’s why there was no cultural barrier.

- Fire-fighting is a specific sport. What attracted you the most in it?
- I would call it an extreme sport. Maybe that’s why it attracted me. Most of us learnt about its existence only at the championship. And we were literally glued to what was going on at the stadium. It’s a very spectacular sport and it’s hard to stay indifferent.

- Were there any excursions around Kazan for the tournament entrants? What impression did they have of our city?
- The athletes were offered two excursions: a Kazan loop tour and an excursion to the Raifa monastery. The city impressed them with its hospitality, neatness and beauty. The athletes were struck by novelty and modernity of Kazan’s architectural buildings. Each sportsman wished to visit our capital again in the future.

- It’s a common idea that fire-fighters are tough guys who restrain their emotions. Is that so?
- I had had the same impression before but after I talked to them I changed my mind as they turned out to be very communicative, entertaining and emotional people.

- Did you have any favourites among the championship entrants? How did they win your favour?
- I cannot single out anyone. We got along with each other very well.

- Fire-fighting is an applied sport, knowledge and skills gained during the championship help fire-fighters in their daily work. Did the participants share any experience with you when such training courses came in handy in their work? Did they get involved into any large fire-fighting?
- Unfortunately it’s hard to answer this question. I can feel that they have expertise and desire to do a good job. But because of their teen-age the championship entrants have not been entrusted with any serious task yet as all of them are underage.