During the ceremonial event the Head of State welcomed all with the beginning of a grand sports festival in Almaty.
- Envoys of hundreds of world leading universities gathered at the stadium. Among you there are future Olympian and triumphant of world championships. There are those who will connect the career with the economy, politics, business, Nursultan Nazarbayev said.
The President of Kazakhstan emphasized our country’s commitment from the first days of its independence to the ideals of unity, cooperation and aspiration to a secure future.
- In sport, science and culture we would like to communicate Kazakhstan's formula of peace and tolerance development to every continent. That is why every day the managerial activity has increased and this Ice Palace and other facilities of the Games were built with that diligence, the Head of State said.
Nursultan Nazarbayev has also pointed out that the Universiade has become a kind of locomotive for the development of sports infrastructure in the city.
- Almaty is already creating absolute records. Athletic village has been built for the first time ever of the Winter Student Games. The people of Kazakhstan will benefit from the investments in this project. Competition halls will become centers of attraction for the mass sports. Athletic Village will become a new neighborhood with affordable social housing for more than 1,700 families. The Student Games will be broadcast by 43 TV channels in 80 countries. Its audience will be more than one billion viewers. We see that the Universiade spread its wings and is ready for the historic launch, the President of Kazakhstan has summarized.
Besides, the President turned attention to the unique venue of the Student Games.
- Almaty is a city with 1000 years of history; it is the home of independence, where a new era in Kazakhstan began. This is a dynamic and modern city, a business center and a driver of the economy. It is a city of the young people. It is a city of students. There is a third part of Kazakhstan’s universities here, with 137,000 students. Legendary and beloved by everyone "Medeo" skating rink will gain its former glory again inhales the atmosphere of a grand struggle. "Shymbulak" will shine as a diamond in the crown of the Zailiyskiy Alatau. The Student Games will become the anthem of a healthy lifestyle. Its effect can be compared with the state programs to strengthen our nation’s health, Nursultan Nazarbayev concluded.
In his speech, the President of Kazakhstan expressed gratitude for the support in the organization of the tournament to all those who participated in preparing the global holiday, including three thousand volunteers, as well as the International University Sports Federation and its President O.Matytsin.
