Rustam Minnikhanov: Sabantui is our main holiday and our present to Universiade guests and participants

First Deputy Chairman of State Duma, President of the Olympic Committee Aleksandr Zhukov, FISU President Claude-Louis Gallien, Russian Minister of Sport Vitaly Mutko, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov, State Counsellor Mintimer Shaimiev, Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin took part in Tatar national holiday Sabantui that is being held in Kazan today.

Representatives of all sports delegations participating in Universiade were invited to the event. Due to this national holiday guests could see customs and traditions of peoples living in the republic. Best projects were presented at 20 venues and farmsteads. Official guests visited national farmstead of Kukmor region. They went into a traditional Tatar house where women showed the traditional cuisine of different nations living in the republic. Then guests saw the process of making valenki.

At the Russian farmsteads guests were met by songs, bread and salt.

Sabantui opened at 11 a.m. at the central square. Creative teams and ensembles from Kazan, Tatarstan and Russia took par in a wonderful performance.

Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin, Russian Minister of Sport Vitaly Mutko, President of the Olympic Committee Aleksandr Zhukov addressed the audience with greetings.

On behalf of all Universiade participants FISU President Claude-Louis Gallien said it was a great joy to take part in Sbantui.

President Rustam Minnikhanov welcomed everyone and congratulated on the holiday:

“It is our national holiday that is celebrated in 55 Russian regions and 23 foreign countries. It is our favourite holiday and our present to Universiade guests and participants.”

National sport competitions, including national Tatar belt wrestling sport Koresh will be held later on the central square. 500 best Tatarstan sportsmen will take part in competitions.

Different kinds of arts and crafts were presented in the “Town of masters”.

Famous artists of G.Kamal Theatre performed at “Shayan show”.

Traditional blacksmith's works were presented at “Blacksmith's yard” exposition.

Guests could also enjoy folk music and dances of peoples living in the Volga region, and taste traditional meals at the stage “At Khadzhy Nasretdin’s house”.