On Friday, September 2nd, ceremonial laying of the cornerstone  took place at the construction site of the future university’s sport and recreation centre.

Honourable guests of Saratov State University participated in the event: Chair of SSU Board of Trustees, Chair of the State Duma Committee on Labour, Social Policy and Veterans O.U.Batalina, Chair of the regional Duma Kapkayev V.V., Minister of Youth Policy, Sport and Tourism Abrosimov A.V., members of SSU Board of Trustees and SSU Rector Chumachenko A.N., SSU President Kossovich L.U., vice-rectors, deans and heads of the institutes and colleges, professors, first- and second-year students.

Despite chilly autumn weather the atmosphere at the ceremony was welcoming, students’ zeal keeping both hosts and guests warm. The event opened with the song “Olympics 80” performed by Deputy Director for Social and Educational Work  of Institute of Sports and Physical Training, prize-winner of “Russian Student Spring” festival” Ilyasova O.V. Alongside her sportsmen from SSU Sport Club and dancers from Student Club demonstrated their talents.

The presenters, Chair of Undergraduate and Postgraduate Student Council Georgi Bolotov and the third-year student of Institute of Philology and Journalism Anastasia Minasyan, asked Rector Chumachenko A.N. to the stage. He greeted everyone and spoke about the long way the University had gone and its many great achievements, among which was building of the new sport and recreation centre that would complete the university campus and change students’ life for the better. According to Chumachenko A.N., the date of the cornerstone laying is symbolic being between Knowledge Day and “Poekhali!” festival held on September 1st with the support from the First Deputy of Presidential Chief of Staff Volodin V.V. At the end of his speech Aleksey Nikolayevich exspressed his gratitude to the members of SSU Board of Trustees, Batalina O.U., governor Radayev V.V. and Volodin V.V.  It is thanks to the latter that the university acquired modern comfortable buildings as well as the unique House of Young Scientists.

Batalina O.U. pointed out that all that is big starts out as small, meaning that though there was only a banner at the construction site, with everyone’s hard work and dedication there soon would be the sport centre. She then thanked Volodin V.V. for his most appreciated input to the university’s development and also invited everyone to the opening ceremony of the sport centre.

After that Master’s degree student of Sociology Faculty,  Master of Sport of International grade of kayaking and canoeing, bronze medalist of Europe Championship,  participant of the Rio Olympic games Kira Stepanova spoke about the immensity of the new building project. Also on behalf of the huge university’s sport team she thanked their SSU family for constant support of each and every of them.

Then students that had advanced in science, sport, art and social activity left their palm prints on the cornerstone thus commemorating their input to the university life.

As the closing part of the ceremony student of Institute of Chemistry Polina Yaroshenko and graduate of Institute of History and International relations Maria Vinogradskaya sang Saratov anthem.

The future sport and recreation centre is planned to have several gyms and a swimming pool, and 100 people will be able to attend sport events there in a year time. The building of the centre is within “500 Swimming Pools” project by “United Russia” party.