Kazan
City and Population
The ancient walls of Kazan recall many dramatic events including the historic siege by Ivan the Terrible in the 16th century. Modern Kazan is the capital of the Republic of Tartarstan and is home to 1.13 million residents. This timeless city is also a city of youth, home to 30 of Russia's largest universities and more than 180,000 students. This "culture of youth" provides Kazan with a modern and progressive vibrancy, an energy that only young people can instil. It is also a highly diverse city with more than 100 nationalities. This diversity, coupled with a young population, has created a unique sense of tolerance, understanding and youthful optimism.
Sights
Visitors will also discover the ancient and fascinating Tartar culture in Kazan. The traditional Tartar festival Sabantui (a feast) will last for the entire FIFA World Cup™. It is a centre of Muslim culture and a vivid example of how different ethnicities and religions can live peacefully together for many centuries. Kazan city centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Kazan is also at the forefront of Russian sport, home to some of the best football, basketball and hockey teams in the country.
Football
Rubin Kazan is currently the top club in Russian football. Crowned league champions after winning the 2008 Russian Premier League, the club at present is very much the benchmark according to which others are measured. Rubin Kazan, whose roots date back to the 1930s but which was re-founded in the late 1950s, is a relative newcomer to the top flight in Russia, having been promoted only in 2003, but gradually has been improving its rankings. Currently the club is participating for the first time tin the UEFA Champions League. On the grassroots front, the city is noted for its football passion with more than 13,000 registered football players, among them 3,200 boys and girls training at three youth sports schools. Several competitions are organised throughout the year at 11 stadiums and one indoor football arena.
Stadium
In 2013 the city will host the Summer Universiade and is building a new 45,015-seat capacity stadium that will become the home stadium for FC Rubin Kazan. It will be located on the western edge of the Volga River, on a site of 24.6 hectares that acts as a gateway to the city from its waterfront site. In concert with the ancillary sporting accommodation, the waterfront site will be developed as a dedicated sporting precinct with excellent supportive infrastructure and amenities.
FAN FEST
In Kazan we propose to use the Central Stadium as the Fan Fest location. The site offers a stunning view of the Kazan Kremlin citadel and is located on the Kazanka riverbank next to the historic centre of the city.
