Kazan represents the best of the Universiade’s ideals which encourage learning, friendship and understanding The city is home to 30 universities and colleges, many of which are the foremost in Russia Student population of 180,000 from all over the world 40% of the population are under the age of 30 Kazan, a “melting pot” of cultures and civilizations, is uniquely suited to host the 2013 Universiade For 1,000 years Kazan has been at the center of trade and cultural exchange. between the North and the South (Scandinavia to the Middle East) and the East and the West (Asia to Europe). Today Kazan is home to over 100 nationalities with different beliefs, cultures and faiths, all living side by side in peace and harmony. Kazan 2013 is inspired by the unprecedented Russian sporting traditions The history of Russian sport is one of the most successful in the world in terms of athletes’ and supporters’ participation, coaching and training expertise and the hosting of sporting events. Russians love sport, it is a daily part of people’s lives whatever their age. Kazan is a city that is passionate about sports, with highly successful teams competing at major Russian and international events. Kazan 2013 is a reliable and committed FISU partner Russia consistently sends the largest delegations to the Winter and Summer Universiades. Russian athletes have won 419 Summer Universiade medals and 186 Winter Universiade medals since 1995. 16 athletes from Tatarstan participated in the Bangkok Universiade in 2007 and won 2 gold, 1 bronze and 1 team silver medal. In the 40th anniversary year since the 1973 Universiade in Moscow, Kazan in 2013 will not only continue the legacy, but also inspire the next generation of university athletes. Kazan is a unique place where two global religions live in peace and harmony Kazan, the religious and cultural capital of Tatarstan, boasts 33 mosques and 35 Orthodox churches. A Christian cathedral and a Muslim mosque stand side by side in the Kazan Kremlin, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000. Among the city’s famed universities and colleges are two major institutions of higher theological education – the Kazan Theological Seminary and the Islamic University of Russia. Dialogue between different religions is the government’s priority.