Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Dmitriy Chernyshenko visited the Aquatics Palace in Kazan (RUS) today. Accompanied by the President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, he got acquainted with the infrastructure of the sports venue, which served as the diving and water polo venue for the 16th FINA World Championships in 2015.
 
The FINA Development Centre in Kazan was presented at the Aquatics Palace by Ranko Tepavcevic – Head of the FINA Development Centre in Kazan.

“On behalf of FINA and respective National Federations, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the Government of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Tatarstan that despite the global pandemic, the FINA scholarship holders were allowed to enter the country and fully prepare for the Olympic Games.”
By Ranko Tepavcevic

Ranko Tepavcevic emphasised that among the new athletes there were some who due to pandemic didn’t have the opportunity to train in their countries for almost a year, and now they are actively training in Kazan. 

At the moment, the FINA scholarship programme in Kazan is attended by 29 athletes from four continents (22 swimmers and 7 divers). Many of the swimmers have already been selected and fulfilled the standards for the participation in the Olympic Games. The divers have yet to qualify for the Olympics, but they will have their chance at the World Cup in Tokyo in April. In addition to the training process, the scholarship holders also have the opportunity to learn the culture of Tatarstan and the Russian language, as well as visit historical places of Kazan.
 
Minister of Sport of the Republic of Tatarstan Vladimir Leonov demonstrated a strategy for the development of infrastructure for the large-scale events and the FINA World Championships in 2025, in particular. He also mentioned the international centre of the aquatics development and the world's first indoor high diving facility.

 
In addition, Dmitriy Chernyshenko was shown the facilities to be used for the FINA World Championships 2025. Kazan will again host the World Aquatics Championships, so the competition will return to the capital of Tatarstan 10 years after the 2015 edition and the legacy will perpetrate. 
 

“This is not the first time Kazan appears to be one of the leading sports capitals hosting international competitions.”
By Dmitry Chernyshenko

What makes this championships unique? The fact that in the pre-event course, the FINA Development Centre has been established here. Athletes from other countries train here, and this is one of the types of cooperation and partnership. We share our expertise and experience. Here we see that within the framework of the preparation for the World Championships such a model when the remaining legacy being the core basis of any major competition is working."
 
Chernyshenko brought attention to the unique facility for high diving which is worth noting.

“It is essential for the athletes to have a chance to train. In general, this will expand the opportunities for practicing such an extreme sport, and will give us new names, new stars. All this is done to attract as many people as possible to do sports.”
By Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation.