The unveiling is due to take place in the Historical Park of Yekaterinburg on November 11, exactly 1000 days before the event is scheduled to begin, as reported by TASS, Russia's official state news agency.

In a post on social media, Governor of the Sverdlovsk region Yevgeny Kuyvashev wrote: "The mascots of the World Student Games, which will be held in Yekaterinburg in 2023, have been officially approved. Soon you will be able to get to know them better. 

"On November 11, exactly 1000 days before the start of the competition, a countdown clock will be set in the Historical Square of Yekaterinburg and the mascots of the Games will be presented."

More than 200 entries were received for the Yekaterinburg 2023 mascot competition with participants submitting images of 12 different animals - a brown bear, a reindeer, a raccoon dog, a black stork, a sable, a wolf, a fox, an elk, a wild boar, a lizard, a silver hoof and malachite.

The entries were judged by an expert panel, which was chaired by Kuyvashev.

Although the mascots themselves have yet to be officially unveiled, the names of the winning designers have been released.

They are three young design students - Taisiya Gubina from Saint Petersburg, Vlada Soboleva from Ufa and Valentina Tishchenko, who is also from Saint. Petersburg.

After their mascot designs were selected, the students will receive prizes from the organisers, including invitations to the Opening Ceremony.

The 2023 Summer World University Games are scheduled to take place in Yekaterinburg from August 8 to 19, with competition across 18 sports.