By Duncan Mackay at SportAccord in London

kazan_logo2April 7 - Kazan, which is officially known to be the sports capital of Russia, is to bid for the 2015 or 2017 FINA world championships, it was announced here today.


Russia's Ministry of Sport, Tourism and Youth, together with the All Russian Swimming Federation and the Government of the Republic of Tatarstan, has decided to start the bidding campaign for the Championships.

Kazan is already hosting the World University Winter Games in 2013 and is one of the Russian host cities for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. 

The official handover ceremony of the Kazan Bid Book took place in London at the SportAccord International Convention 2011.

The official ceremony of the handover of Kazan's bid book was attended by FINA PresidentJulio C Maglione, FINA executive director Cornel Marculescu, executive director of the Russian Olympic Committee Marat Bariev, Director of Kazan 2015/2017 bid director general of the Executive Committee of 2013 World University Games Vladimir Leonov.

Kazan is the eighth most populous city in the Russia with a population of 1.1 million and in 2009 was chosen as the sports capital of Russia.

Others city's in hosting the 2015 and 2017 Championships are Seoul, Budapest, Hong Kong and Marrakesh.

The vote is due to take place on July 15, at the World Championships in Shanghai.

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