The message reads, in part:
Your festival is a new, unique phenomenon on the international sports calendar. It has brought together university teams from different regions of the world so that the participants can properly defend the sporting honour of their countries and together experience the unique atmosphere of studenthood, sports, friendship and mutual understanding. It is symbolic that the festival venue is Yekaterinburg, a city on the border of Europe and Asia, one of the largest economic, scientific, cultural and student centres in Russia. The organisers did a great deal to ensure that this special day is taking place. In Yekaterinburg, a modern festival village appeared, sports facilities were built and upgraded, a rich cultural programme was developed, and the information and telecommunications infrastructure was improved. I am convinced that what has been created today will serve people for many years to come. And of course, your festival will become one of the large, memorable anniversary celebrations dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the capital of the Urals, which is being marked during these days.
I wish the participants in the University Sports Festival a beautiful, uncompromising competition, bright victories and records, and the guests and residents of Yekaterinburg and the Sverdlovsk Region – the kindest, positive impressions and emotions.