As part of the International Military Festival “Spasskaya Tower” in Moscow on the Red Square a great occasion – the Day of Sport – was held. One of the brightest locations of the event was the 29th Winter Universiade expo-site, which would be held in Krasnoyarsk in 2019.
The ceremony of initiation of well-known Russian athletes — female gymnast, two-time bar exercises Olympic champion Svetlana Khorkina and female single figure skating Olympic champion Adelina Sotnikova — to the Winter Universiade 2019 Ambassadors attracted much attention of the occasion participants and guests.
Contests, sport quests, master classes were arranged for children by renowned athletes as part of the event. The event participants were welcomed and entertained by U-Laika — the Games mascot.
The Initiation ceremony was opened by the head of the Krasnoyarsk region Permanent delegation under the Government of the Russian Federation Yelena Shamakhova and Deputy Director General of the Winter Universiade 2019 Executive Directorate Denis Branchukov.
«We are extremely pleased to present the most grandiose sport event in Siberia — Winter Universiade Krasnoyarsk 2019! These are the first winter Games hosted by Russia and we shall make every effort to ensure this event is held at the highest possible level and leaves its mark in world sport history, — told Denis Branchukov. — Popularization of student and youth sport is a top priority for us, and the Ambassadors of the Winter Universiade 2019 are those who fulfill this task by demonstrating all the beauty, power and majesty of sport by their personal example».
In her statement Svetlana Khorkina emphasized that it is a great honor for her to be an ambassador of the Winter Universiade 2019: «I understand very well what it means to be an ambassador of the Games, and I know that we are heavily responsible to all people who wait for these competitions. First of all, to the athletes and coaches who want to show their skills, who want to win medals for our country. Therefore, I would like to thank the Krasnoyarsk region administration, Organising Committee once again for having chosen me as an Ambassador of the Winter Universiade 2019, and I shall do my best to ensure the Games are held at the highest possible level. I would also wish the athletes brilliant wins, I wish all the students to succeed and achieve the most important result — winning medals for our country!».
In her turn Adelina Sotnikova also thanked the Winter Universiade 2019 team for such honor: «I wish all the athletes every success, the best of health and top results. I hope that the Winter Universiade 2019 will become as successful and triumphant for our boys and girls as the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi».
Please recall, the 29th Winter Universiade 2019 will be held in Krasnoyarsk from March 2 to 12, 2019. Over three thousand young athletes from 50 countries will take part in the Games. They will compete for 73 sets of awards in 11 sports. Ambassadors of the upcoming Games include such renowned athletes as Alexei Yagudin, Dinara Safina, Alena Zavarzina and Vic Wild, Evgeny Ustyugov, Alexander Semin and other stars. The Ambassadors are to promote the ideas of student sport development and healthy lifestyle.
