EF Education First and Universiade Kazan 2013 Become Partners Kazan, Russia, July 6, 2012 - One year prior to the 27th Summer Student Games in Kazan, EF Education First and the Universiade Directorate announced their partnership at the Kazan Kremlin presidential residence. The President of Tatarstan, the Kazan city mayor, and the ministers cabinet participated in the signing ceremony. Edward Baldakov, Head of EF Corporate Language Learning Solutions in Russia & CIS, and Vladimir Leonov, Head of Universiade Directorate, sealed the memorandum of intent. According to the partnership agreement, EF Education First will develop a language learning program and provide Universiade volunteers with English learning vouchers. “Thanks to partnership with EF Education First we will be able to provide volunteers with high quality language training”, said Vladimir Leonov. “Kazan will host over 13,500 athletes and official visitors from 170 countries. Our guests’ impression of Kazan depends a lot on how we will be hosting them and speaking a common language. This will help them to form an opinion about Russia’s new generation. Language training in this context becomes key”. EF has been a partner to leading international sports events around the world for over 25 years. Apart from being an official provider of language learning solutions to the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee, the company’s history of partner programs includes the Olympic Games in Seoul, the Olympic Games in Beijing, the Asian Games in Guangzhou, the World Cup in Brazil and others. “We are glad to offer extensive experience to Universiade in Kazan”, said Edward Baldakov. “We are honored to take the responsibility and provide cutting-edge technology to help Universiade volunteers reach the necessary level of English”. In April, 2012, EF and Universiade started a language training program for Universiade’s executive directorate, and in June this year, EF Education First and the Kazan city Mayor signed a partnership agreement. To prepare for large international sports events, EF Russia launched specialized English language courses for the hospitality and private security industries called EF Frontline.
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For more information: Anastasia Evdokimova, mob: +7 (916) 571 8423, e-mail: anastasia.evdokimova@ef.com