In the atmosphere of neighbourship and tolerance more than 100 nationalities of Christian, Muslin and other religions have been dwelling in the city with the population of 1 mln people.

The unrepeatable flavor of the city is created by the unique combination of the Eastern and European civilizations.

Kazan is located in the Northwestern part of the republic at the confluence of the Volga and Kazanka rivers. Kazan is situated about 800 km from Moscow. It takes you 1 hour 20 minutes to get to Kazan from Moscow by plane and 10 hours by train.

In 2007 the Russian Patent Office of the Government of the Russian Federation granted Kazan the right to brand itself as the "Third Capital" of Russia.

Kazan is a city of students; it takes the third place in Russia by the number of higher education institutions. More than 180 000 students including from 63 countries of the world are studying nowadays in Kazan.

The sport achievements of Kazan are well-known far from the borders of the city. According to the mass media research with the support of Ministry of Sports, Tourism and Youth Policy of Russian Federation, Kazan was announced as a sports center of Russia. Sport and physical training have become an integral part of Kazan citizen’s lives.

Kazan is a city with a developed sports infrastructure which gained a great experience in organizing the international tournaments. The city is proud of its sports teams and the most popular among them are:

“Rubin” Football Club (Champion of Russia in 2008, 2009; 2010 CIS Cup and Russian Super Cup winner)

“Ak Bars” ice hockey team (Champion of Russia in 1998, 2006, 2009, 2010; Gagarin Cup winner in 2009, 2010; 2007 European Champions Cup winner; 2008 Continental Cup winner)

“Kamaz-master” team (tenfold winner of Rally Dakar)

“Zenit - Kazan” volleyball team (fivefold Champion of Russia in 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012; triple winner of Russian Cup in 2004, 2007, 2009; winner of Champions League in 2007/08, 2011/12)

“Dinamo - Kazan” volleyball team (Champion of Russia in 2011, 2012; 2010 Russian Cup winner)

“UNICS” basketball team (winner of Russian Cup in 2003, 2009; 2011 European Cup winner; 2004 FIBA European League winner; 2003 North European League winner)

“Sintez” water polo team (Russian Champion 2007; Russian Cup winner in 2005, 2010; 2007 LEN Cup winner)

“Dinamo - Kazan” bandy team (Russian Champion 2011; 2010 Russian Cup winner; 2010 World Cup winner; 2009 FIB Champions Cup winner)

“Dinamo - Kazan” field hockey team (eightfold Champion of Russia)

More often Kazan becomes a sports center of Russia. 629 tournaments were held in the republic only in 2011, among which 439 republic, 111 all-Russian, 28 international and 51 from students’ sports contest programme of Republic of Tatarstan, Volga Federal District and Russia: 2011 Bandy World Championship, World Junior Fire and Rescue Championship 2011, F1 powerboat racing Grand Prix 2011, Davis Cup 2011, Table Tennis European Youth Championships, ITF Women’s World Tennis Championship “Tatarstan Open”, World Water polo Junior Championship “Kazan Cup 2011”, 2011 WDC World Professional Championship Latin American Showdance, World Billiard Championship “Free Pyramid”. In 2012 the European Taekwondo Olympic Qualification Tournament has been already held in Kazan, as well as International President of Tatarstan Billiard Cup and international tennis tournament “Yeltsin Cup”.

The Championships and Cups of Russia are regularly held of such kinds of sports as athletics, swimming, fencing, tennis, wrestling, gymnastics and others. Thus holding of tournaments according to the international standards are greatly practiced in Kazan.

Sportsmen of Tatarstan win the highest awards in the Olympic Games and Universiades as well.

The active sport buildings construction is observed in Kazan and in the Republic of Tatarstan. The upcoming great event is the 27th Summer Universiade in 2013. 28 reconstructed sport centers including 36 new buildings (27 of which are already used) will be in operating during Universiade. The biggest of them are “Ak Bars” Wrestling palace, Tennis Academy, Shooting range complex, Rowing channel and others. The construction of the main centers is in progress: gymnastics center, water sport palace and football stadium with 45, 000 seats, which also will be the main arenas for 2015 World Aquatics Championships and 2018 FIFA World Cup.