Wikipedia

University International Sports Festival

University International Sports Festival (Russian: Международный фестиваль студенческого спорта) was a regional sports event held Yekaterinburg, Russia from 19 August 2023 to 31 August 2023. 4,000 athletes aged 17 to 23 from 22 countries contested for 197 medal events across 14 sports.[1] The event is also one of the main events to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the founding of Yekaterinburg.[2]

Международный фестиваль студенческого спорта
University International Sports Festival
Host cityYekaterinburg, Sverdlovsk Oblast
CountryRussia
Teams36
Athletes4100 (planned)
Events197 in 14 Sports
Opening19 August 2023 (2023-08-19)
Closing31 August 2023 (2023-08-31)
Websiteekat2023.com/en

Developments

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The sports festival was established after the cancellation of the 2023 Summer World University Games and suspension of Russian and Belarusian athletes in the 2021 Summer World University Games due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Athletes from Russia and its ally Belarus were expected to participate in games, members of BRICS, SCO and CIS were also invited.[3][4]

On 28 January 2023, the first information bulletin was published on the official website of the University International Sports Festival in English and Russian.[5]

Festival overview

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  • An estimated 4,100 athletes from 246 universities from 94 countries of the world, including 23 universities in Russia are included in the games, where athletes could not be younger than 17 years old and no older than 26 years old. The organizing committee will recruit roughly 6,000 volunteers, which the games is expected to attract 250,000 spectaculars.[6]
  • The organizing committee will use the sports venues and athlete village, originally planned to host the cancelled 2023 Summer World University Games, for the sports festival.

Preparations

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  • In December 2022, nine months before the festival, Head of the Department of State Housing Construction Supervision of the Sverdlovsk Region Alexei Rossolov inspected the construction site of the water sports palace, community center and games village. When being asked about whether construction work was obstructed by international sanctions, Rossolov responded by saying that "western sanctions have always interfered and will interfere. But some [of the materials] were replenished thanks to import substitution, something was purchased in advance. We know what is changing for us."[7]
  • In January 2023, Russian Minister of sports Oleg Matytsin revealed that the sports festival would not be competed in the format of national teams but university teams instead, citing that it is to "remove all psychological barriers for our colleagues from European countries" to let them "able to come to Russia without looking back at someone's discontent." Furthermore, he also revealed that Latin American and African nations would be invited as well in the festival.[8]
  • On 28 January 2023, the first two dormitories of the students' village were put into operation.[9]
  • In April 2023, the first meeting of the Festival Organising Committee was held, where Russian Minister of Sport Oleg Matytsin, Deputy Minister of Finance Evgeny Kuyvashev and other officials attended the meeting.[10]
  • Starting from June 2023, tickets are open for sale, where interested parties could purchase them via "КАSSIR.RU", the official partner for ticket sales, through the official website of the festival.[11]

Safety measures

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Since August 15 till September, sale of alcohol and beverages are banned in the center of Yekaterinburg.[12]

Symbols of the games

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On 1 February 2023, the logo for the University International Sports Festival is revealed. The basis of the logo are "EKAT", four multi-coloured letters that reflects the natural diversity of the host city, its forests and lakes, rivers and mountains, fields and plains. Meanwhile, straight lines used to feature the Ural constructivism.[13]

Slogan

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The slogan for the festivals is announced as "Yekaterinburg on Sports" following a public vote.[14]

Theme song

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The theme song "Boost of Energy, Positivity, and Drive" was announced in late May. The piece is written by Dmitry Filatov, conductor of the Ural Youth Symphony Orchestra and will be used in events in the festival.[15]

Ambassador

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On 19 April 2023, the committee announced that Anzhelika Timanina, Olympic and 11-time world champion in artistic swimming, will join as the sports ambassador of the festival.[16]

On 11 May 2023, the committee announced that David Belyavskiy, 1-time Olympic and world champion in gymnastics becomes a festival ambassador.[17]

Several other athletes were also announced as ambassadors of the festival.

Official partners

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Venues

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The sports festival will be held in the following venues:[5][21]

  • Palace of Team Sports (Дворец игровых видов спорта)— volleyball, futsal
  • Rhythmic Gymnastics Centre (Центр художественной и спортивной гимнастики)— rhythmic gymnastics
  • Palace of Water Sports (Дворец водных видов спорта)— swimming, diving
  • Judo Arena (Дворец дзюдо)— judo, sambo
  • Ekaterinburg-Expo International Exhibition Centre (МВЦ «Екатеринбург-Экспо»)— table tennis, badminton, boxing, basketball 3x3, taekwondo, wrestling
  • Greenwich Tennis Academy (Детская академия тенниса «Гринвич»)— tennis

Schedule

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https://ekat2023.com/en/schedule

Events

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The following 14 sports will be contested in the games, and 197 medals distributed:[6][21]

Participating nations

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Members of the BRICS, SCO and CIS are invited to partake in the games. The following countries are chosen by the organizing committee initially. Later in March 2023, the Russian ambassador to China revealed that 94 countries are expected to compete at the Festival, but whether these countries are sending athletes to the games is still unconfirmed.[1][3][6][22]

In April 2023, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko revealed to the press that 16 countries have expressed their readiness to take part in the festival, while the Russian ministry of sports has been working on inviting other countries to participate in the games. Meanwhile the Russian sports minister Oleg Matytsin revealed that Russia has invited athletes from Benin, Senegal and Togo and various other countries to take part in the games to boost international cooperation in the field of physical culture and sports.[23][24][25]

In July 2023, the first list of confirmed participating nations are announced.[26] On 2 August 2023, the second batch of confirmed participating nations are announced.[27] On 14 August 2023, 36 countries are confirmed to participate in the festival by the organizing committee.[28]

  1.   Afghanistan[a][28]
  2.   Argentina[27]
  3.   Armenia[27]
  4.   Azerbaijan[28]
  5.   Bahrain[28]
  6.   Bangladesh[27]
  7.   Belarus[26]
  8.   Brazil[27]
  9.   China[26]
  10.   Cuba[26]
  11.   Ecuador[26]
  12.   Guatemala[27]
  13.   India[28]
  14.   Indonesia[26]
  15.   Iran[27]
  16.   Iraq[28]
  17.   Kazakhstan[26]
  18.   Kyrgyzstan[27]
  19.   Mexico[27]
  20.   Mongolia[28]
  21.   Nigeria[26]
  22.   Pakistan[26]
  23.   Russia (Host)
  24.   Serbia[27]
  25.   South Ossetia[28]
  26.   Sri Lanka[26]
  27.   Syria[28]
  28.   Tajikistan[29]
  29.   Tanzania[26]
  30.   Thailand[28]
  31.   Turkey[28]
  32.   Uganda[26]
  33.   Uzbekistan[28]
  34.   Venezuela[26]
  35.   Vietnam[26]
  36.   Zimbabwe[26]

Medal table

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Medal table are as follows:[30]

  *   Host nation (Russia)

University International Sports Festival Medal Table
RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1  Russia*144138199481
–Other participating nations5156104211
Totals (1 entries)195194303692

Official Broadcaster

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Official broadcasters of the festival are listed as follows[32]

  • Worldwide:
    • University International Sports Festival official website
    • RTRS.Plus
    • Youtube and Rutube channels of Start TV and Radio Company
  •   Russia
    • START TV, Sportivny TV
    • Futbolny TV
    • Bolshoy efir TV channel

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ The delegation used a flag depicting the University International Sports Festival logo.

References

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  1. ^ a b Burke, Patrick (5 December 2022). "International University Sports Festival in Yekaterinburg expected to feature 22 countries". Inside the games. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  2. ^ "In honor of the 300th anniversary of Yekaterinburg, the citizens will be presented with an enchanting light and music fountain (В честь 300-летия Екатеринбурга горожанам презентуют фееричный светомузыкальный фонтан)" (in Russian). Apiural. 17 February 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  3. ^ a b "More than 500 events to be held within the cross years of Russian-Chinese cooperation in the fields of sports (БОЛЕЕ 500 МЕРОПРИЯТИЙ ПРОЙДУТ В РАМКАХ ПЕРЕКРЁСТНЫХ ГОДОВ РОССИЙСКО-КИТАЙСКОГО СОТРУДНИЧЕСТВА В СФЕРЕ СПОРТА)". Nao24. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  4. ^ Rowbottom, Mike (18 October 2022). "New Russian-Chinese sporting initiative will involve International University Sports Festival". Inside the news. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  5. ^ a b "University International Sports Festival - First information bulletin (English)" (PDF). Ekat 2023 (University International Sports Festival). Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  6. ^ a b c Rowbottom, Mike (19 October 2022). "Yekaterinburg's 2023 International University Sports Festival to attract 250,000 spectators". Inside the news. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  7. ^ Sergeev, Igor (28 December 2022). "Auditors Kuyvashev raided the construction site because of the urgent task of Putin (Ревизоры Куйвашева нагрянули на стройку из-за неотложного задания Путина)" (in Russian). Ura News. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  8. ^ Dolgopolov, Nikolay; Kozina, Anna; Trisvyatsky, Ilya (4 January 2023). "Oleg Matytsin: "Sport should not destroyed." Interview of the Minister of Sports to Rossiyskaya Gazeta (Олег Матыцин: "Спорт не должен разрушать". Интервью министра спорта "Российской газете")" (in Russian). Altai Sport. Rossiyskaya Gazeta. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  9. ^ Borisenko, Polina (26 January 2023). "The first two dormitories were opened in the Universiade Village (В Деревне Универсиады открыли первые два общежития)". Nakanune. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  10. ^ "Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko Holds the First Meeting of the Festival Organising Committee". University International Sports Festival. 10 April 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  11. ^ "University International Sports Festival Tickets on Sale". University International Sports Festival. 17 July 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  12. ^ "The sale of alcohol was banned in the center of Yekaterinburg until September (В центре Екатеринбурга до сентября запретили продажу алкоголя)" (in Russian). DK News. 15 August 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  13. ^ "Meet and get used to it: logo of the University International Sports Festival approved". University International Sports Festival. 1 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  14. ^ Berkeley, Geoff (30 May 2023). "Russian conductor writes music for International University Sports Festival". Inside the games. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  15. ^ "Boost of Energy, Positivity, and Drive: University International Sports Festival Gets Its Theme Song". University International Sports Festival. 30 May 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  16. ^ "Anzhelika Timanina Becomes University International Sports Festival Ambassador". University International Sports Festival. 19 April 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  17. ^ "David Belyavskiy Becomes Festival Ambassador". University International Sports Festival. 11 May 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  18. ^ Gornovsky, Alexey (1 April 2023). "The organizers of the alternative Universiade in Yekaterinburg spoke about a new partner (Организаторы альтернативной Универсиады в Екатеринбурге рассказали о новом партнере)". Ura.ru. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  19. ^ "Koltsovo Airport and Festival Partner Up". University International Sports Festival. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  20. ^ "Ural Federal University Becomes Festival Volunteer Programme Operator". University International Sports Festival. 6 April 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  21. ^ a b "Over 4000 people to participate in university sports festival (В ФЕСТИВАЛЕ УНИВЕРСИТЕТСКОГО СПОРТА ПРИМУТ УЧАСТИЕ БОЛЕЕ 4 000 ЧЕЛОВЕК)". TASS. 1 December 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  22. ^ Burke, Patrick (5 March 2023). "Russian Ambassador to China reveals plans for Summer Youth Games as countries draw closer after Ukraine invasion". Inside the games. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  23. ^ "16 countries want to participate in the International University Sports Festival in Russia (16 стран хотят участвовать в Международном фестивале студенческого спорта в России)" (in Russian). Russkiy Mir portal. 11 April 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  24. ^ Berkeley, Geoff (26 April 2023). "Russian Sports Minister visits Africa in push to build international coalition". Inside the games. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  25. ^ "Russian Minister of Sport Invites Athletes from Bahrain and Mali to Participate in the Festival". Ekat2023. 18 May 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "The first 15 countries participating in the International University Sports Festival have become known (Стали известны первые 15 стран-участниц Международного фестиваля университетского спорта)" (in Russian). Students sport. 20 July 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  27. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Teams from Argentina and Serbia will come to Yekaterinburg for the University Sports Festival (Команды Аргентины и Сербии приедут в Екатеринбург на Фестиваль университетского спорта)". Ural Inform. 2 August 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  28. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Athletes from 36 countries will perform at the International University Sports Festival (На Международном фестивале университетского спорта выступят спортсмены из 36 стран)" (in Russian). Student Sports. 14 August 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  29. ^ "Tajikistan will perform at the International Festival". 9 November 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  30. ^ Modenova, Anastasia. "The results of the International Sports Festival were summed up in Yekaterinburg: who took more gold (В Екатеринбурге подвели итоги Международного фестиваля спорта: кто взял больше золота)" (in Russian). E1.ru. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  31. ^ note_1 = The source did not specify remaining countries on the medal table, thus amount of gold, silver and bronze medals achieved by other countries will be stated as shown
  32. ^ "UISF 2023 Live: Where to Watch". University International Sports Festival. 2023-08-14. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
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