RIA Novosti Roundup: Putin Salutes Russian Dominance; Universiade Outdraws Estimates

Universiade Day 10 Wrap: Putin Salutes Russian Dominance

The 10th day of the 2013 World University Games drew to a close Monday with President Vladimir Putin praising the Russia's staggeringly high medal tally as the result of the host nation's exceptional preparation and not the athletic weaknesses of other countries.

Russia, which sent 673 athletes to the Kazan Universiade, has won 249 medals including 126 gold, 66 silver and 18 bronze, giving them 179 more than the next closest country Japan, which has 70.

"All the athletes are very good," Putin said while traveling on Hogland Island in the Gulf of Finland. "They are world champions, Olympic champions from Europe and other continents."

The president credited Russia's lopsided success to the years-long preparation of the country's sporting establishment and its athletes.

"We're seeing the results," he said.

Russia won 14 medals in canoe and kayak events on Monday and grabbed gold in men's field hockey with a 2-1 win over France. Germany took bronze after a 4-3 squeaker over Malaysia.

Russia's women's volleyball team beat Brazil 3-2 for the gold medal and Thailand dropped Poland 3-1 for the bronze.

It was a strong day in the pool for the United States, which won five medals. John Conger clocked 1:55.47 in the men's 200m backstroke, topping Japan's Yuki Shirai by 1.48 seconds. Conger's countryman, Jacob Pebley, swam to bronze.

Stephanie Peacock took silver and Ashley Steenvoorden bronze in the women's 800m freestyle. Each won their second medal of the student games. The U.S. also claimed silver in the men's 4x200 freestyle relay, sandwiched between the gold medal-winning Russians and Australia.

Anastasia Zuyeva, a London 2012 silver medalist in the 200m backstroke, set a Universiade record in the women's 50m breaststroke with a time of 27.89, .03 seconds faster than American Jennifer Connolly's 2011 mark. Belarus' Aliaksandra Herasimenia was 0.12 seconds back for silver while Madison Wilson earned bronze for Australia.

Elsewhere, Britain's women's football team won gold, crushing Mexico 6-2 with a strong second half. Bronze went to Brazil following a 2-1 win over South Africa.

In basketball, the U.S. women's team hammered Russia 88-67 in the gold medal game. Australia trumped Taipei 99-58 for bronze.

On the men's side, Russia beat Canada and Australia put away Serbia late to advance to the men's final on Tuesday. Canada and Australia will meet for bronze.

The Universiade wraps up July 17.

Russia’s Student Games Have Drawn 770,000 Spectators - Minister

The World University Games in Kazan have attracted 770,000 spectators, Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said Tuesday, surpassing earlier estimates by the Tatarstan regional government and the International University Sports Federation (FISU).

"The games are not over yet, but we can say that they were successful," Mutko told a press conference on the second-last day of the 27th Universiade.

It was unclear Tuesday how the sports ministry calculated the total of 770,000 fans. The Tatarstan government said last week more than 500,000 tickets had been sold for the Universiade's 27 events, while FISU, the officiating body for the Student Games, put the total at roughly 100,000.

Mutko's announcement comes amid concern inside the Universiade organizing committee that the games have not drawn as many fans as expected. Audience figures for past Universiades were not immediately available.

While swimming, gymnastics and basketball have unquestionably drawn throngs of spectators, organizing committee deputy general manager Igor Sivov issued a quasi-apology last week for the sparse crowds at many events, claiming some people had bought tickets but failed to show up.

Also Tuesday, Mutko reiterated Saturday's claim that 3 billion viewers in 115 countries have watched the Universiade on TV. That total was arrived at "according to our data," Mutko explained.

The Universiade, in which roughly 10,000-athletes participated and which has been hailed by the Russian authorities as a precursor to the Sochi Olympics next February, ends on Wednesday.

Putin: University Games Put Kazan on the Map

Hosting the World University Games has given the central Russian city of Kazan newfound fame on the world stage, President Vladimir Putin has said.

The University Games are the first major sports event to take place in Kazan, which will also host the 2015 world aquatics championships and some games at the 2018 football World Cup.

"Even just 10 or 15 years ago it was just one of Russia’s provincial cities," Putin said Friday. "Now it has transformed into a chic European city with brilliant infrastructure, both in transport and sporting terms."

The University Games, which cost around $4.5 billion to host, run through Wednesday.

Published by exclusive arrangement with Around the Rings’ Sochi 2014 media partner RIA-Novosti.

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