Team USA at Summer Universiade

Nels Hawkinson is the highly enthusiastic and colorful Deputy Head of the United States Delegation at the 2013 Kazan Games.

Three years ago the United States Olympic Committee decided to discontinue financial support for athletes and teams at the World University Games and Hawkinson fearlessly took on the immense challenge of his current role.

The United States delegation in Kazan including athletes, coaches and staff is just over 400.

"Our first goal is to reach out to the NGB’s to see if they’re willing to participate with their athletes and if not, then we go after NCAA caliber teams," Hawkinson said, while watching a ladies rugby match between the U.S. and Italy.

Seven teams from the U.S. are comprised entirely of collegiate squads, as opposed to all-star teams of the best athletes from around the country. Ladies rugby is represented by the Naval Academy, while for volleyball, Springfield College, the Division III national champions took to the court.

"To have a Division three men’s volleyball team take on the Russians on national TV on ESPN is these guys absolute crazy dream," Hawkinson said.

Hawkinson seems to be just the right man to build and create more exposure for Universiade, which is contested in both summer and winter, every two years. In December, Winter Universiade will be staged in Trentino, Italy.

"No one in America knows about this event," Hawkinson admits, while continuing to cheer on the U.S. ladies. "Under my regime, I hope we will get government support because we get none. And that we get exposure so that even the casual fan knows what the World University Games are. It’s kind of like what the X-Games were those first few years."

One-hundred hours of coverage are being televised by ESPN and Hawkinson also hopes to spread the word through his team of 20 dedicated bloggers, among other strategies. Preparations to come to Russia have been ongoing over the past few years.

"I spent a lot of time with the U.S. Embassy before coming here and Mike McFaul, the United States’ambassador to Russia, who visited here for three or four days with me is extremely willing to help," Hawkinson said. "So we hope government and NCAA funding will come for the next Games in 2015. Awareness will come over time."

And his take on the city of Kazan and the 12-day Summer Universiade, which will conclude with the closing ceremony on Wednesday night?

"I have fallen in love with this city and I’m not just saying that," Hawkinson said. "With no offense to Moscovites, this is a special city; it’s the sports capital of Russia. They have nearly everything in place with the exception of more hotels and flight into here at reasonable prices. They’ve got it all here."

His passion for the Games and the difficult mission ahead is highly contagious.

Reported in Kazan by Brian Pinelli

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