EF Partners with Universiade Kazan 2013

Kazan, Russia, July 21, 2012 --(PR.com)-- One year prior to the 27th Summer Student Games in Kazan, EF Education First (EF) and the Universiade Directorate recently announced their partnership at Kazan’s Kremlin presidential residence. The President of Tatarstan, Kazan’s Mayor, Cabinet Ministers, and representatives from EF, participated in the signing ceremony. Edward Baldakov, head of EF Corporate Language Learning Solutions in Russia & CIS, and Vladimir Leonov, head of Universiade Directorate, signed the memorandum of intent. According to the partnership agreement, EF will provide language training to prepare Universiade volunteers for the 27th Student Summer Games.

“Thanks to partnership with EF we will be able to provide volunteers with high quality language training,” said Vladimir Leonov. “As host to over 13,500 athletes and official visitors from 170 countries next year, we are very aware that our guests have a positive impression of Kazan- which depends in large part on how we hosting them and also how we can speak to our visitors in a common language. This will be crucial in the world’s opinion about Russia’s new generation. English language training in this context becomes key to our success as a host nation.”

EF, the world’s largest international education organization, has participated in international sports events around the world for over 25 years. EF is an Official Supplier of Language Learning Programs to the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. And, EF has also been been the Olympic Language School of the 1988 Seoul Olympics, Official Language Training Supplier of the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 16th Asian Games. “We are glad to offer our extensive experience to Universiade in Kazan,” said Edward Baldakov, Head of EF Russia’s Corporate Language Learning Solutions. “We are honored to be partners in this important event and provide cutting-edge technology to help Universiade volunteers welcome the world in English.”

In April of this year, EF and Universiade started a language training program for Universiade’s executive directorae, and in June this year EF and Kazan city mayor signed a partnership agreement. To prepare for large international sports events, EF Russia launched customized English language courses in hospitality and private security dubbed “EF Frontline.”