Tatarstan President solemnly opened “Sport Planet” festival

Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev, the head of Federal Agency on physical culture and sport Vyacheslav Fetisov, and editor in chief of “Sport” TV channel Vasiliy Kiknadze opened the festival “Sport Planet” on Millennium Square of Kazan.

“Welcome to Sportstan!” – the hosts of “Sport” TV channel - commentator Dmitriy Guberniev and world champion in rhythmic gymnastics Yana Batirshina opened the sport-concert program. Then honoured guests of the festival appeared on the stage.

Vasiliy Kiknadze’s greeting speech was short: “It is a pleasure to organize such a big event in Tatarstan. We are in the right place where people of sport live!”.

Vyacjeslav Fetisov congratulated Tatarstan citizens on the Day of the Republic on behalf of all Russian sportsmen. “Tatarstan is a large sport ground. Your republic is one of the leading regions in Russia in number of professional teams,” – he emphasized.

Mintimer Shaimiev congratulated Kazan residents and the capital guests on the Day of the Republic and the 1001st birthday of Kazan and noted: “We live in the century when sport develops all over the planet – both mass sport and sport of high achievements”. He summoned young sportsmen of the republic to follow the example of eminent sport stars of the country and the world.

Afterwards performance of sport, dancing and creative groups of the republic children and youth continued the festival program. Competitions in more than 10 kinds of sport started on the grounds around the stage; anyone can participate in them.

Honoured guests of the festival showed their respect to sport veterans of the republic and visited sport grounds and stands of children-and-youth sport schools.