24th Winter Universiade update, LOC meeting – Day 1
December 15th, 2007
Zhang Xnsheng (right) with Zhang Zuoji
The Organizing Committee Meeting of the 24th Winter Universiade was held at Yabuli International Conference and Exhibition Center on December 15th. Mr.Zhang Zuoji, Governor of Heilongjiang Province and president of LOC, together with Mr.Zhang Xinsheng, Vice Minister of Education and Vice President of FISU, as well as many other important officials from General Administration of Sports, China Ski Association, Air China, etc. attended the meeting. All the meeting delegates had taken the newly finished train by which it only took 2 hours from Harbin to Yabuli. LOC also invited the Counselors of Chinese Embassies in any other countries so as to forward our warmest invitation to students and officials all over the world to Harbin in 2009 during the 24th Winter Universiade. Mr. LI Zhanshu, Executive President of LOC made a progress report, concluding the job they have done and also making the plan for next step. The total budget is approximately 30 million Euros. The venues, sports and individual disciplines are already approved by FISU and ISF. According to LOC 4,000 student competitors and officials from more than 50 countries and regions will come to Harbin in 2009. Referee’s training programme and testing events will be ready very soon. Torch Relay will be started in 2008. In the following months, LOC will continue with the construction of ski venues, and finish the venue of K125 before the second half of 2008. Many other important issues are to be discussed such as tournament guide, technical manual for each event, accommodation, transportation, security control, medical care, doping control, volunteer programme, and etc. Mr.Zhang Xinsheng , Vice Minister of Education, Vice President of FISU, expressed his deep gratitude to President ZHANG Zuoji for the good preparation of the upcoming Winter Universiade. He underlined three very important points: Firstly, continue to strengthen the communication with FISU and ISF. "The guidance of international organization is always helpful to the success of the game. Every game should strictly follow the rules and regulations of international organization." Secondly, "next FISU EC meeting will be held in Harbin next February. This is the first time that all the Committee Members as well as the people from Secretariat will come to Harbin for meeting and inspection. That will be a very good opportunity to present the progress report and introduce Harbin to the World". Thirdly, "we have to strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation. Promote academic collaboration, and enhance China’s higher education through the academic exchanges". After the meeting, all the delegates made the inspection on site, such as Yabuli train station, HHP reservoir, control center, freestyle skiing venue, Yabuli National Conference and Exhibition Center and so on.
