The second stage of torchbearers selection for the 28th Winter Universiade 2017 has started in universities of Almaty.
The requirements of selection and criteria for torchbearers were discussed during an ordinary council of rectors of the city devoted to Torch Relay.
-An interesting fact. The next year after hosting the Universiade in Torino, the number of applicants for local universities raised by 10 times, – the Torch Relay manager Kirill Pyartel notes. – Universiade is not only legacy left after the games as unique venues, as well as not only large-scale and cultural event, but it is also a tool for promotion capable to affect to serious promotion of the image of Almaty as a student sports capital. Respectively, Torch Relay is a unique tool for promotion of student games. Unfortunately, not all universities can delegate its students as participants of the Universaide, however, Torch Relay gives opportunity for any student to take part in the selection contest, whereas the best of them will be honored to carry the torch of the games.
Each university was recommended to conduct its own selection contest, after which the top 10 will be selected. After getting acquainted with lists of all universities, the council of rectors will choose the best ones. Criteria are the same: active lifestyle, achievement in sport, science. Each participant of the relay must have his own history of success. The history which will be interesting not only for local people, but also for billions of people all over the planet – the exact expected number of TV audience of the Universiade.
The great example for the torchbearer is Dmitriy Balandin – the Olympic champion, the first and the only one to receive official status of the Universiade 2017 torchbearer. The history of student from Almaty is a great example to follow: force of character and will to win that made a dream come true, which was not expected even by great optimists.
The same selection procedure will be conducted in all regions and Astana. Each city will select 60 torchbearers, whereas Almaty will select 100 people. Even today, delegations are headed to regions of the country in order to conduct series of meetings devoted to preparation and organization of Torch Relay within the country. According to approved concept, each regional center, the cities of Astana and Almaty will have their own way of lightening the torch in the largest university of the region. After carrying the relay through the streets of the city, the best student of the region will bring the torch to Almaty where all 16 torches will be gathered in one at culmination moment of the WU 2017 Opening ceremony.
As we remind, on September 1, the republican contest for selection of torchbearers had started. Any student of the age from 17 to 28 can submit his application for consideration of the Republican Committee. The application and description of the selection procedure is following:
