The final test of the facilities is taking place before the start of the winter games in Almaty, according to Kazakh Vice Prime Minister Askar Mamin. He has personally evaluated the city’s readiness for the large-scale event. Mamin paid visit to the springboards complex Sunkar, the ice palace Almaty Arena and the athletic village, which was opened for the first time in the history of the Winter Student Games. A big supporter of hockey, Mamin expressed special interest in the stadium Halyk Arena, which will host one of the brightest competitions of the Universiade - male hockey tournament.

NAIL NUROV, HEAD OF UNIVERSIADE 2017 DIRECTORATE:

The facility is ready, as you can see, by 100%. All the technical services, all the parameters necessary for a hockey tournament, are organized at the highest level. We have completed almost everything.

Meanwhile, the first teams have already arrived in the athletic village. The representatives of the Kazakh team, which includes 250 people, are also among them. The Kazakh team is the largest among the competitiors. The athletes were been welcomed by the Olympic boxing champion and mayor of the Athletic Village Serik Sapiyev.

SERIK SAPIYEV, ATHLETIC VILLAGE MAYOR:

I have executive functions, but if there are some technical details, I will advise on them!

The athletes are provided with two, three and four bedroom suits. They will stay here until the 8th of February.

FATIMA KITAYBEKOVA, MEMBER OF KAZAKH WOMEN’S ICE HOCKEY TEAM:

- Everything the athletes need is available here.

- Have you seen all?

- Yes, we are getting settled.

The athletes are getting settled and training for the competitions, following strict and busy schedules.

After the Kazakh national team, the teams of China and Canada have recently arrived in the village. The president of the International University Sports Federation Oleg Matytsin has also arrived in Almaty to participate in the Universiade.

OLEG MATYTSIN, FISU PRESIDENT:

Our main goal is to raise the awareness that sport is the ambassador of peace. It unites people.

The 28th Winter Universiade flame was lit in Astana.

Universiade’s torch relay, which passed through Astana streets, will continue in Ust-Kamenogorsk, Pavlodar, Kokshetau, Petropavlovsk and Kostanay. And finally, on Sunday, the flames from across Kazakhstan will come together into one - in Almaty at the opening ceremony of the Student Games. During these four days Universiade flame will pass 22,500 kilometers.