Ilsur Metshin, the city's Mayor, has been quoted as suggesting that the matter is under serious discussion, saying: "It is the most serious of issues and requires a thorough work-through by the leaders of the country."

He added: "We also need to ask the advice of the people.

"I want to conduct a survey to find out what our citizens want."

The move would have a certain logic, in that some of the facilities and logistical expertise developed for the Universiade might also serve for an Olympics.

As Metshin put it: "By the quantity of sports and of participants, and the burden on hotels and the airport, our Universiade differs in no way from the London Olympics for us, the organisers."

However, with a population of only around 1.2 million, the city seems rather small to shoulder the demands that come with hosting the world's biggest sports jamboree in the 21st century.

Indeed, it is far from certain at this distance that Kazan would be the first-choice Russian candidate; Moscow bid unsuccessfully for the 2012 Olympics and Saint Petersburg is viewed by some as another possible contender to try to bring the Summer Games back to Russia, if not necessarily in 2024, then at some point in the future.


The eventual field for the 2024 race will depend in some measure on the outcome of the 2020 contest, pitching Istanbul, Madrid and Tokyo against each other, which will be determined only in September.

There is already a strong feeling around the Movement, though, that whoever wins the 2020 Games, the United States is the likeliest 2024 location.

Russia stands to host a succession of top international sports events in coming years, including next month's World Athletics Championships in Moscow, the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics and the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

If the Summer Olympics looks a bit of a long shot for Russia's eighth-largest city, it may find itself well placed should it decide to bid for more top single-sports events, as has also been suggested.

The city in Tatarstan is already set to host the 2015 World Aquatics Championships.

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