First World Aquatics Champs in Russia Underway -- On the Scene

(ATR) Kazan, Russia, a city that prides itself on its ability to mix, is hosting the world’s top aquatic athletes until mid-August.

The 1.2 million-population capital of Russia’s Republic of Tatarstan, 800 kilometers east of Moscow, prides itself on being home to Muslim and Christian worshipers. Sixth largest in the country and with a history dating back more than a millennium, it beat out Guadalajara and Hong Kong to host the event when FINA voted in Shanghai four years ago.

Kazan became Russia’s third-biggest tourist draw after Moscow and St. Petersburg in 2014, and the World Aquatics Championships and World Masters Aquatics Championships could add to the city's international profile.

Using a mix of permanent and temporary venues, action got underway in the main event July 24 and runs through Aug. 9.

Open water swimming is showcasing the city’s picturesque Kazanka riverside. The UNESCO recognized Kazan Kremlin rises, with the spires of the Cathedral of the Annunciation and the minarets of the Kul Sharif Mosque. On the opposite side, the 2013-built Civil Registration Office, a an arch-supported, copper bowl-shaped building which provided a camera position for the competition. Its architect meant it to represent the mix of Russian and Tatar culture.

Women and men raced 5 km events on July 25. Men had the 10 km on July 27 with the women’s race going a day later.

The rest of the competition venues are on the same campus upriver. The Aquatics Palace, the only dedicated indoor venue, holds 4,000 for diving and was built for the 2013 Universiade. Its next door neighbor is the water polo stadium, a temporary outdoor setup that holds 3,650.

The last venue is the most-spectacular for what organizers have done inside: Kazan Arena, the permanent home of FC Rubin Kazan of the Russian Premier League, was built in 2010 and with the successful Russian FIFA World Cup bid in mind. Organizers have created a world championships first that could set the tone for other multisport competitions: The interior of the stadium has been partitioned and two temporary 50 meter pools for synchronized swimming and racing with temporary seating were created.

Outside the stadium and its massive video board above the main entrance, is the FINA Water World Park, a free admission live site open July 24-Aug. 16 with sponsor activation and nightly concerts featuring contemporary and classic Russian song and dance.

TThe other major Universiade legacy venue is the Main International Centre, with its 30-building athletes complex serving as home away from home for Kazan 2015 athletes.

"Kazan is a very good place to hold such a competition. Here there are absolutely amazing sports facilities and very beautiful views everywhere," boasted Russian Olympic Committee president Alexander Zhukov. "Millions of people all over the world are watching these competitions. It's great that they will get to see this wonderful city again"

The event boasts 2,500 athletes from 190 nations entered and three new events, which fit with Kazan’s mixing theme: synchro mixed duets, mixed 3m and 10m diving and mixed relay swimming.

"Kazan is the first opening ceremony that FINA had the opportunity to see, a wonderful show to announce a wonderful championships," said FINA president Julio Maglione. "In the future, the idea of mixed events will be decided by the International Olympic Committee along with FINA. We are beginning with mixed relays in swimming, and we will see what happens with mixed duets in synchronized swimming and we at FINA think the mixed diving has been an extraordinary success."

Open Water Open

Ronnie Wong Man Chiu, chair of FINA’s technical open water swimming committee, said the organizing committee delivered a venue in the Kazanka River "beyond our imagination."

"As far as the difficulty of the course is concerned I think it’s a very straight forward rectangle course but for the swimmers coming from warmer places it’s a challenge because the temperatures are a little bit lower than in southern countries," Chiu said.

Ferry Weertman won silver in the July 27 men’s 10km event, losing out to U.S. gold medallist Jordan Wilimovsky.

"The course was pretty big, so the navigation was kind of hard, so everybody was swimming against each other, but it makes a little bit more fun for us," Weertman said.

"I tried to follow the leader. I got pretty close, but not close enough. I am very happy with my second place, and I qualified for the Olympics. I haven’t been there, but my coach has, and he said the quality of water was good there."

Medals

China led with five gold, two silver and one bronze after July 27. Its 10m synchro gold divers Chen Ruolin and Liu Huixia edged a Canadian duo for the gold. Russia’s synchro team delighted a home country audience when it won gold in the technical program, beating the Chinese team.

Russia has three gold and one silver and bronze, followed by the United States with three gold and one bronze.

Schedule

The 16-country men’s water polo runs on odd numbered days through preliminaries and even numbered days for women. Men’s elimination matches are Aug. 4 and 6, with the final on Aug. 8. Women have their knockout rounds Aug. 3 and 5, with the final on Aug. 7.

Open water swimming continues through Aug. 1, with a break on July 31. Synchronized swimming at Kazan Arena runs through Aug. 1. Diving at the Aquatics Palace runs through Aug. 2, the same day the week of swimming races begins at Kazan Arena. High diving at Kazanka, the open water start/finish line venue, is Aug. 3-5.

The championships close on Aug. 9 but, for the first time, the FINA World Masters are in the same city. They run Aug. 5-16.

Written by Bob Mackin

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