体坛英语新闻：2013 Kazan Universiade to attract 9,500 athletes

MOSCOW, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- Around 9,500 athletes are expected to participate in the 2013 Kazan Universiade, Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said Wednesday.

"We think that 9,500 athletes will take part, plus 1,500 to 2,000 coaches and specialists," Mutko said.

Earlier, it is expected that the Universiade in Kazan will attract over 13,000 university athletes from more than 170 countries and regions.

"We will have 301 medal sets on offer, just one short of the London Games," the sports minister said.

The Presidential Heraldry Council of Russia on Saturday registered the flag for the games, a stylized tulip drawn in five colors on white background accompanied by the Universiade logo.

The 2009 games in Belgrade attracted nearly 10,000 participants, while officials at the 2011 edition in Shenzhen, China, announced 12,000 student athletes, coaches and officials from 152 countries and regions started their journey in the sports event.

The 27th Summer Universiade in Kazan, which is scheduled from July 6 to 17 next year, will include 27 summer sports.

The Universiade is organized by the International University Sports Federation and it is considered as the second largest sport participation event in the world.