Universiade

The Universiade is the world university games, the second in importance only to the Olympic Games. Athletes from all over the world take part in the Universiade; about 60% of them later become the Olympics participants.

Countries-hosts of the Universiade

In the 19th century different countries, first of all England and the USA used to hold various sports competitions between the universities. The first international university competitions took place in Paris in May, 1923, at the initiative of Frenchman Jean Petitjean.

Before World War II several competitions like this were hosted by various cities under the auspices of the International Confederation of Students (ICS) in 1925, 1927, 1930, 1933, 1935, 1937, and 1939. After the war they were carried within the framework of International Youth and Students Festival under the direction of International Students Union.

Number of countries-participants during previous Universiades

In 1948 at the initiative of European countries International University Sports Federation (FISU) was formed. It started organizing its own alternative competitions, International University Sport Weeks.

Number of athletes-participants of the previous Universiades

In 1959 International Students Union and FISU for the first time carried World University Games in Turin, where they got their present name of the Universiade.

The size of the hexagon shows the total number of medals the country athletes got. Moving the cursor on the time scale shows the statistics of a certain year.

FISU views the Universiade as an international and cultural festival. Now summer and winter Universiades are held every two years, in odd years. Summer Universiade has 13 compulsory sports, whereas winter Universiade has 11 compulsory sports. Athletes under the age of 28 can participate in the games.

FISU emblem is a Latin “U” surrounded by 5 stars of different colour that symbolize five continents. This emblem is on the white Universiade flag. Students anthems Gaudeamus Igitur is played at the medal-awarding ceremonies.

It was Winter Universiade 1981 when the games mascot first appeared. Today every university games have their own mascot.

At present George E. Killian (USA) is FISU President.

Russian students have been participating in the Universiades since 1957; our delegations have always been the most numerous.

Russia hosted the Universiade only once, in summer 1973 in Moscow, where our country was the first in the number of won medals. Formed in early 1990-s out of Students Sport Association, Russian Students Sport Union is a part of FISU.

Since 1993 Russian athletes have won 503 medals at summer Universiades and 247 medals at winter university games. Russian team is always one of the three strongest ones, moreover it is often leading. For example, during summer Universiade in Belgrade (Serbia) in 2009 Russian national team became the first in team classification, having won 76 medals (27 gold, 22 silver, 27 bronze).

Young athletes from Tatarstan bring the highest awards from summer and winter Universiades. 11 students from Kazan won 2 gold and 4 silver medals during the summer Universiade in Belgrade.

Universiade 2013 in Kazan

On May 31, 2008 Kazan was announced the winner of XXVII World Sumer Universiade 2013 bidding campaign. Among Kazan`s competitors there were the city of Gwangju (Korea) and a Spanish city Vigo.

The Executive Directorate headed by Vladimir Leonov was created to organize and deliver the Universiade.

Competitions on 26 sports will be held during the Universiade in Kazan. About 12 thousand athletes and delegations members from 170 countries, 1.5 thousand mass media representatives and about 100 thousand tourists and spectators from Russia and all over the world will come to the Universiade. The successful Universiade organization will need about 20 thousand volunteers to assist.

64 venues will be used for the Universiade, 36 of them are being specially built.

The Universiade Village in Kazan promises to be one of the best in the Universiade history. It will include information and entertainment centres, a stadium and training gyms. The capacity of the residential area is 14,5 thousand people.

After the Universiade the Village will be converted into a students camps with the training centre of Russian national teams of various sports.

8 indoor and 18 outdoor courts of such a unique sport venue as Tennis Academy will be located on the territory of the Universiade Village.

Mission of Kazan Universiade

The mission of Kazan Universiade is to gather young athletes from all over the world in the city of unique multiethnic heritage.

To continue Russian sport traditions, become a launch pad for the future generations of athletes.

To make the life of Kazan dwellers more interesting and convenient.

Give our children a possibility to do any kind of sport they like, to lead a healthy way of life.

To make a significant contribution into the creation of positive image of Russia in the world.

Slogan of Kazan Universiade

The slogan of Kazan Universiade is «You are the world».

As the basic emblem of the Universiade represents Latin letter “U”, then the following spelling is used:

U are the World.

It lets interpret the slogan in two ways: “You are the world” and “Universiade is the World”.

In Kazan, Universiade 2013 hosting city people of various nationalities, religions and cultures live in peace and harmony. Long ago Kazan became the symbol of tolerance, peaceful co-existence, cultural exchange and enrichment. All this finds its reflection in the slogan.

And “U are the World” is about the infinite value of a man. His uniqueness and depth. His significance, power and potential. You are not limited by one dimension, you are multidimensional and many-sided. There is nothing impossible for you, you are the world of amazing talents. You will get everything you want.

Mascot of Kazan Universiade

The mascot of the Universiade in Kazan is Uni, the kitten of winged snow leopard.

The snow leopard or panther (Latin . uncia uncia) is a mammal of the cat family, living in the mountains of the Central Asia- the Himalayas, the Hindu Kush, Pamir, Tien Shan, the Caucuses and the Altai. The snow leopard is included into the International Red Book and the Red Book of Russia.

The winged snow leopard is the national symbol of Tatarstan Republic. Stylized, this creature is represented on the emblem of Tatarstan.

The snow leopard is a symbol of Bulgar tsars, the totem of the Bulgar tribe of Barsils, the main group of the Volga Bulgaria population. The cult of the snow leopard originated from the ancient times, and developed in Scythian and Saxon period.

The mountain-climbers having climbed all five seven thousand metres mountains were titled the Snow Leopard in the USSR.

Brand Sign of Kazan Universiade

The Kazan Universiade brand sign is a stylized tulip, made in the FISU brand colors and containing the image of the Latin letter U, which is a mandatory element to brand any sports event held under the auspices of the International University Sports Federation (FISU). The basis of the brand sign is the so-called floral style that is the basis of a modern Tatar ornament. In addition, the flowers are an essential attribute of summer, a symbol of youth and development, joy and happiness.

At the end of the XV- the first half of the XVI centuries, during the economic boom of the Kazan Khanate and flowering of the various types of folk art, the Tatar ornament from a relatively modest and simple ornament of Bulgar period stepped into more dynamic, decorative saturated forms, which have focused on the traditional flower style.

The features of this style the most prominently manifested in some architectural details of monumental buildings of Kazan, which are inherent characteristic of that time features of the so-called eastern Baroque, jewelry and clothing.

A realistic basis for the reality perception, reflected in the national ornament, give to the works of Tatar masters a special great art and informative value. The realism of the Tatar ornament is based on its profound relationship with the nature and life of people, with the technical methods of ornament design that determined the harmony of the ornament with material and product appointment.

Today the ornament continues to play a great role in the folk arts of people. However, in the current conditions its content has considerably changed and enriched: along with all the best that was created by Tatars during its existence, a new, previously unknown plot-figurative motifs have appeared in it.

The exquisite taste of Tatar people, their skills and artistic flair is remarkably evident in the embroidery, gold embroidery, ornamental weaving, in coinage and ceramics, in folk costume, in jeweler’s art and in leather appliqué, that is still famous in the world.

Logo of Kazan Universiade

The Universiade logo represents a compact right-angled design consisting of the English words of Universiade, Kazan, Russia, 2013 and five FISU stars symbolizing five continents. In the language of the international communication the logo determines clearly and definitely when and where the Universiade will be held. Myriad Pro Regular typeface is used in the logo.

According to the FISU requirements it is necessary to include five FISU stars in the Universiade brand marks to show the belonging of the sport event to the International University Sport Federation.

Logo can be reproduced combined with the brand mark- the Tulip (see next article of the present Guidelines) or separately but in the strict correspondence with the rules stated below.