Tatarstan President meets with Shamil Tarpischev

Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev has met with the chief of Russian tennis federation Shamil Tarpischev. Tatarstan Prime Minister Rustam Minnikhanov, Tatarstan Minister on Youth Affairs, Sport and Tourism Marat Bariev, and Vice-President of Russian Tennis Federation Andrei Bokarev have attended the meeting.

Construction of a tennis academy in Kazan was discussed during the meeting. A large tennis center is to be built in Tatarstan capital by the end of 2010. A sport facility with up to 8 covered and 17 open-air tennis-courts will meet all requirements of the International tennis Federation, the Association of Professional Tennis Players and the Women’s Tennis Association.

After the meeting Shamil Tarpischev indicated that Tatarstan is the strongest sport region of Russia. Choosing Kazan as the capital of the Universiade-2013 proves it. President of the Tennis Federation informed that during the talks with Mintimer Shaimiev issues of the Universiade sites construction and development of mass children and youth sport were considered. “I and the head of Tatarstan want each professional team of the republic to have their own talented sportsmen, not just legionaries,” Tarpischev said.

Tatarstan Minister on Youth Affairs, Sport and Tourism confirmed the fact that construction of the tennis academy is being carried out according to the schedule; it will be finished by 2010.

Shamil Tarpischev told journalists that organization of large-scale tennis tournaments was discussed at the meeting. “Compliance of Kazan’s tennis infrastructure with high standards was approved by the President of the International Tennis Federation Francesco Ricci Bitti,” Tarpischev reminded. “Now we are thinking about organization of a large-scale tennis tournament on courts of the tennis academy.”