Host city | Yekaterinburg, Sverdlovsk Oblast |
---|---|
Country | Russia |
Teams | 36 |
Athletes | 4100 (planned) |
Events | 197 in 14 Sports |
Opening | 19 August 2023 |
Closing | 31 August 2023 |
Website | ekat2023 |
University International Sports Festival (Russian: Международный фестиваль студенческого спорта) was a regional sports event held Yekaterinburg, Russia from 19 August 2023 to 31 August 2023. 4,000 athletes aged 17 to 23 from 22 countries contested for 197 medal events across 14 sports.[1] The event is also one of the main events to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the founding of Yekaterinburg.[2]
The sports festival was established after the cancellation of the 2023 Summer World University Games and suspension of Russian and Belarusian athletes in the 2021 Summer World University Games due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Athletes from Russia and its ally Belarus were expected to participate in games, members of BRICS, SCO and CIS were also invited.[3][4]
On 28 January 2023, the first information bulletin was published on the official website of the University International Sports Festival in English and Russian.[5]
Since August 15 till September, sale of alcohol and beverages are banned in the center of Yekaterinburg.[12]
On 1 February 2023, the logo for the University International Sports Festival is revealed. The basis of the logo are "EKAT", four multi-coloured letters that reflects the natural diversity of the host city, its forests and lakes, rivers and mountains, fields and plains. Meanwhile, straight lines used to feature the Ural constructivism.[13]
The slogan for the festivals is announced as "Yekaterinburg on Sports" following a public vote.[14]
The theme song "Boost of Energy, Positivity, and Drive" was announced in late May. The piece is written by Dmitry Filatov, conductor of the Ural Youth Symphony Orchestra and will be used in events in the festival.[15]
On 19 April 2023, the committee announced that Anzhelika Timanina, Olympic and 11-time world champion in artistic swimming, will join as the sports ambassador of the festival.[16]
On 11 May 2023, the committee announced that David Belyavskiy, 1-time Olympic and world champion in gymnastics becomes a festival ambassador.[17]
Several other athletes were also announced as ambassadors of the festival.
The sports festival will be held in the following venues:[5][21]
The following 14 sports will be contested in the games, and 197 medals distributed:[6][21]
Members of the BRICS, SCO and CIS are invited to partake in the games. The following countries are chosen by the organizing committee initially. Later in March 2023, the Russian ambassador to China revealed that 94 countries are expected to compete at the Festival, but whether these countries are sending athletes to the games is still unconfirmed.[1][3][6][22]
In April 2023, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko revealed to the press that 16 countries have expressed their readiness to take part in the festival, while the Russian ministry of sports has been working on inviting other countries to participate in the games. Meanwhile the Russian sports minister Oleg Matytsin revealed that Russia has invited athletes from Benin, Senegal and Togo and various other countries to take part in the games to boost international cooperation in the field of physical culture and sports.[23][24][25]
In July 2023, the first list of confirmed participating nations are announced.[26] On 2 August 2023, the second batch of confirmed participating nations are announced.[27] On 14 August 2023, 36 countries are confirmed to participate in the festival by the organizing committee.[28]
Medal table are as follows:[30]
* Host nation (Russia)
Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Russia* | 144 | 138 | 199 | 481 |
– | Other participating nations | 51 | 56 | 104 | 211 |
Totals (1 entries) | 195 | 194 | 303 | 692 |
Official broadcasters of the festival are listed as follows[32]