Presentation of Ufa as a candidate to host the World Games 2021 was brilliantly held in Switzerland

UFA, 22 January 2015. /Bashinform News Agency, Iliya Spiridonov/. On January 21, at the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee (Lausanne, Switzerland) the Head of Bashkortostan Rustem Khamitov made a final presentation of Ufa as a candidate city to host the XI World Games 2021. He delivered his speech in English.

“Every day I get up and do my morning exercises, about 1000 movements and each movement for three years has been accompanied with the words «Ufa must be the capital of World Games», «Ufa must be the capital of World Games». It has become a mantra for me and for our team. And it is my heartfelt belief,” the Head of the Region said.

Rustem Khamitov marked Ufa’s significance as a cultural, commercial and sports centre of Bashkortostan and Russia with a developed infrastructure.

“Ufa is a hospitable city; its sports facilities are always full of athletes and supportive fans. Bashkortostan is a top-ranking sports region, one of the best in Russia in 2013 and 2014. Our people are friendly and open, we are all looking forward to hosting the World Games,” the Head of Bashkortostan underlined. “Ufa combines a rich historical tradition and ardour of the young.”

According to Rustem Khamitov, millions of people in the city and country sincerely believe that it is within the Ufa’s power to get the right to host the World Games.

“When I was young I did sports actively, I was a champion of the Republic in gymnastics of my age. And my dream was to have a large-scale sports event in Ufa. I know this dream is shared by many Ufa citizens. Thousands of people do those kinds of sports that are in the programme of World Games. We already have champions in some of them. It's an exciting moment for us now because we are at the doorstep to our dream. And I do hope it comes true!”, the Head of the Republic said.

Also the Deputy Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation Pavel Kolobkov, co-chairman of national and non-Olympic sports of Russia Gennady Aleshin, head of Ufa administration Irek Yalalov, executive director of ANO "Bid Committee of the 11th World Games 2021" Oleg Shabanov made reports to the members of the Executive Committee of the International World Games Association (IWGA).

By the end of the presentation the delegation of the Russian Federation answered the questions of the presentations moderator of candidate cities to host the World Games 2021, IWGA Vice President Max Bishop.

“In my opinion, the presentation was successful”, Rustem Khamitov said in an interview with reporters. “We talked about what we have in Ufa, how we prepare, what we will have. In fact, there were quite many questions from the members of the Executive Committee of the World Games. We answer them in detail, in full. I think we made a good impression. I think everything will be fine.”

Recall that the World Games is a complex international competition in sports, which are not included in the Olympic program. They are held since 1981 by the International World Games Association (IWGA) under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee once every four year for 11 days. Russian athletes participate in these competitions since 1993.

On July 29, 2014 a delegation of Bashkortostan presented at the headquarters of the International World Games Association (IWGA) a Bid Book of Ufa to host the 11th World Games 2021, which contained a description of the republic and Ufa, its sports facilities and urban infrastructure. In October 2014 Ufa was visited by the IWGA technical commission.

Besides Ufa, the applications were submitted by the capital of Peru Lima and the city of Birmingham (Alabama, USA). Announcement of the winning city will be held during a Press Conference of the International World Games Association in Lausanne, January 22, 2015.

Full transcript of the speech is posted on the official website of the Head of the Republic.