The Executive Committee of the International University Sports Federation (FISU) at an online meeting decided to suspend the right of Yekaterinburg to host the Summer Universiade 2023, according to the official website of the organization.
At the same time, the acting president of the organization, Leonz Eder, expressed gratitude to all the cities that hold competitions under the auspices of FISU.
“This year, FISU is bringing together young people from all over the world for a safe and peaceful celebration of the resumption of our FISU World Student Championships.
And we are more determined than ever to provide more of these opportunities in the future in partnership with host cities, to whom we remain deeply grateful,” the official said.
At first, this news was perceived as the cancellation of the last major international tournament remaining in Russia.
Moreover, according to the Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation Oleg Matytsin, FISU is under great pressure from individual states.
However, as Alexander Chernov, head of the Universiade 2023 Executive Directorate, assured, no one is going to take the competition away from Yekaterinburg, and the wording “suspend the right” means that the Games will be postponed to other numbers.
Initially, they were supposed to take place from 7 to 19 August.
“The executive committee of the organization will be held in Brussels on November 10-12, at which a new date will be determined.
Nobody selects the Universiade, ”the Match TV specialist quotes.
At the same time, it is not entirely clear why to change August, which is convenient for students, for another month.
Most likely, the international federation is simply postponing the final decision until the fall, probably hoping for a change in the political situation in the world.
According to State Duma deputy Svetlana Zhurova, the transfer of the Universiade to another country will primarily lose FISU itself, as well as athletes, so the organization is in no hurry to take the competition away from Yekaterinburg.
“The Universiade in Russia is very important for FISU.
They know how we are doing.
We have already hosted two Universiades, they were held better than anywhere else.
I was at the Universiade in other countries, I have something to compare.
The rest of the states do not take these games so seriously, they do not prepare such an infrastructure, ”Sport-Express quotes Zhurova.
Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Physical Culture and Sports Dmitry Svishchev also doubts that another country will be able to hold the Universiade at such a high level and suggested that if the tournament is postponed, demand financial compensation from FISU.
“The whole world knows about the experience of holding the best student competitions in Russia, both summer and winter.
I know that Yekaterinburg was actively preparing for this event, certain funds were invested.
Therefore, it is necessary to demand compensation for the cancellation of the Universiade,” the official said.
More than 90 billion rubles were allocated to create infrastructure and host the tournament, with half of the amount coming from the federal budget.
Such figures were announced at the beginning of the year by the head of the region Evgeny Kuyvashev.
40 facilities are being prepared for competitions and trainings, including seven new ones.
According to Zhurova, even if the competitions are canceled, the facilities and infrastructure built in the region will be used to develop and popularize sports.
“Why does each city apply to host certain competitions?
Additional money is allocated from the federal budget for the development of infrastructure, which in the future will not fly away on a flying saucer and will not move along with the leaving athletes.
It will remain in the city and will be fully utilized.
Now all this will remain with the city, one way or another, they built it all, so it will be used for other purposes, ”the deputy noted.
The words of Zhurova were also confirmed by the Minister of Sports of Russia.
As Matytsin promised, all work on creating infrastructure for the Universiade will be completed, despite the latest news.
“The seven new sports facilities currently under construction and five dormitories in the village will be transferred to the Ural Federal University.
I am sure that the new and reconstructed Universiade facilities in Yekaterinburg will be in demand among the residents of the region and the whole country and will become one of the most significant all-Russian centers for the development of student sports,” the official said.
It remains to wait for November and the final decision of the FISU Executive Committee.
Earlier, the organization deprived Yekaterinburg of the right to host the World Martial Arts Games scheduled for September 2022.
Now the competition will be held in Turkish Samsun.
Two student world championships were also canceled: rugby in Kazan and powerlifting in Moscow.
But all these tournaments cannot be compared in scale and significance with the Universiade.