Universiade flag arrives in Russia's Kazan

The Universiade flag has arrived in Kazan, capital of Russia's Tatarstan republic, Wednesday night. According to local media, Kazan mayor Ilsur Metshin carried the flag out of the plane. Hundreds of people, including Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov, came to the airport to meet the flag from China's Shenzhen. "Our dream has come true. The whole world knows Kazan now," Minnikhanov said. The Universiade flag came back to Russia after almost 40 years, when in 1973 Russia hosted the Moscow Universiade. Kazan, which will host the World Student Games in 2013, has been building sport facilities since 2009. So far, 28 out of a total of 32 required sport facilities have already been built and commissioned. The construction of the Universiade Village for 13,000 athletes is nearing completion.