Any preconceived ideas of Russia being a dangerous or unaccommodating nation have been quashed during Thomas Dullard’s experience at the 27th Summer Universiade in Kazan as a Young Reporter.
From an Australian perspective, unless you’ve had first-hand experience of the Universiade before, you’d probably be unaware that it is the second biggest multi-sports event in the world, behind the Olympic Games.
Athletes, reporters and tourists from around the globe gathered in Russia recently for the World University Games, for the most part with little to no knowledge about Kazan or the Universiade.
Young journalists from around the world were among the thousands of fortunate people who were blown away as a part of their involvement in the Young Reporters Programme.
Connecting the World: Young Reporters from around the world get a photo outside the front of the Kazan-Stadium Arena.
The magnitude of the event was evidenced by the four-hour long marathon opening ceremony.
It left no stone unturned and showcased the best of Russia from the present day to years gone by.
For the Young Reporters it was a working holiday to central Russia that most of them had never thought possible.
Although some of the experience and the city had been manufactured especially for the Universiade, if Russia wanted to show the world what they are capable of, they have delivered.
There is a significant sense of pride in Kazan. The people, young and old, are kind-hearted, and have a clear passion for presenting a strong and powerful Russia.
Kazan, 800 kilometres east of Moscow, harnesses a healthy combination of the young and the old, new and the traditional.
A stunning world heritage Kremlin is the focal point of the buzzing city filled with university students.
Beautiful Russian women are very well represented; and are routinely dressed to impress.
The driving is random, aggressive and disorganised.
Restaurants are hard to find, but a traditional Russian meal of salad, soup and meat is nice enough, and McDonalds is unbelievably popular.
The weather was balmy and comfortably hot in the summer. In the winter the temperatures plummet to negative 30 degrees.
Village Way: The student Village shines under the blue sky in Kazan.
Hard to fathom.
Straight spirits, as expected, are standard. And normally served stiff.
Security is tight and the rules are strict.
A simple greeting in Russian surprises the locals and they appreciate the interaction.
It was predominantly a sport reporting experience, but it has been just as much a worldly experience and a Russian experience that has connected reporters, athletes and people from right around the globe.
