Rustam Minnikhanov takes part in the opening of a new swimming pool in Derbyshki: Our summer is short that is why swimming pools are much needed

On January 26, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov took part in the opening of a new swimming pool in Derbyshki settlement in Kazan.

The Raketa swimming pool was built under the federal programme for the development of physical culture and sport for the period 2016 – 2020 in Derbyshki in 2017.

Minnikhanov called the opening of the swimming pool a significant event. “Citizens of Derbyshki and Kazan citizens have the opportunity to come here and to swim. Our summer is short that is why swimming pools are much needed,” Minnikhanov said.

Tatarstan President reminded that there are two swimming pools to be opened in the republic today. The second swimming pool was opened in Baltasi.

During the opening ceremony Minnikhanov said that FINA's President Julio Maglione, President of the All-Russian Swimming Federation Vladimir Salnikov and President of Russia’s Diving Federation Alexey Vlasenko are taking part in the opening of new sports facilities.

“Today, the country has done a lot in the field of sport, there are many infrastructural facilities in Tatarstan. We held international competitions, including the World Aquatics Championships in 2015. We will hold championship on swimming on short water. I am sure that all this will allow our athletes to show good results,” Minnikhanov said.

Minnikanov handed in a gift certificate for the total amount of 200,000 roubles to the senior executives of a new pool.

President of Russia’s Diving Federation Alexey Vlasenko thanked the regional authorities for the enormous support of water sports. “Kazan is a water capital of Russia today. When we discuss at the meetings where to hold these or other competitions, they say, of course, in Kazan,” Vlasenko said.

In his turn, FINA's President Julio Maglione emphasized that for him “it is a great honour to be back in Tatarstan, where we had held the best World Aquatics Championships in the history of FINA”.

As of the beginning of 2018, 11,000 sports facilities are operating in Tatarstan, among which, until recently there were 205 pools. This is one of the best indicators in the country.

Development of mass sports accessible to the public is a strategic initiative of Russian President Vladimir Putin. For this purpose, the infrastructure is built and renovated- sports centres in the cities of Russia and complexes in a walking distance in the districts of the cities. The construction of new sports facilities, in particular in Tatarstan, gives opportunity for more people to have access to the sport infrastructure and to do sports,  thus improving their quality of life.