The XXII Universiade (World University Games) will take place in Kazan, Tartarstan, Russia from Saturday July 6th to Wednesday July 17th. www.kazan2013.ru
This Universiade will host 26 different sports, including 12 compulsory sports like Athletics, Swimming and of course Football.
As usual, Football starts a day earlier on Friday 05th July and will run right up to the final day of the Games.
www.kazan2013.ru/Football Schedule
The Colleges and Universities Sports Association of Ireland (CUSAI) http://www.cusai.ie/ will coordinate with individual University sports organisations to send a side to represent Ireland.
The Irish Universities Football Union (IUFU) http://www.thirdlevelfootball.ie/iufu/ are the body charged with preparing a Mens and Womens Football squads for the upcoming tournament. Ireland have a proud record of competing in Universiades. Since Sheffield 1991, when Football was first deemed an Official sport for the biennial event, Ireland have sent a team. The Ireland mens side competed in 10 Games in a row before financial restraints meant Ireland didn’t send Football squads to the last Universiade in Szenchen, China. Although, Ireland were represented at other sports with UCD athletes competing in Swimming and Golf.
The Women’s management and backroom staff are being recruited by IUFA at the minute and the Men’s team had a second trial on January 04th last at IT Blanchardstown in Dublin 15.
43 players were called to that Trial including UCD’s Niall Hanley, Tristan Dent and Peter McMahon also were ex-UCD Garvan Broughall,Stephen Doyleand Darren Forsyth
Players Called for Second Trial
McMahon competed at the Universiade in Belgrade, Serbia scoring a beaut of a goal against Italy in the Group stage.
World University Games: Italy 2 -1 Ireland
Format
The format will run like other years, each team is due to play 6 matches.
4 groups of 4 teams each. After 3 games, the two highest qualify for quarter-finals, top eight. While the two bottom sides compete for 9th -16th placing. Three rounds later and there will be placing from 1st to 16th. One bonus would be if there were double-headers,one match after another. This means the organisers need less venues and is better value for spectators.
Venues
Kazan 2013 have listed 6 venues for Football competition, although one or two may be added for the first day, as it appears every team is playing that day.
Olymp Stadion, 65 Christopolskaya
Miras Stadion, 4 Dzhaudata Faiza
Raketa Stadion, 1a Stadionnaya
Rubin Stadion, 2a Kopylova
Tasma Stadion, 56 Gagarina
Trudovye Rezervy Stadion
UCD AFC Supporters Club are very proud of Ireland’s participation in the Universiade. We are going to take a closer look at the tournament and Ireland preparations for the upcoming XXVII Universiade in Kazan, Tartarstan.
After all we would never have the UCD AFC Serbia Supporters Club if it wasn’t for the Universiade of 2009 in Belgrade, Serbia.
We encourage everyone else to share their thoughts on the Games,the Ireland players in the squad listed in the IUFU link or maybe readers have their own experience of past Universiades.
Other Links:
International University Sports Federation
www.fisu.net
1 comment
The Universiade is a great opportunity to spread the word about UCD and football in Ireland. Personally, I was delighted to learn more and be a member of this community since I learned about it at the games in Belgrade.