2009 WU: CSU and CTI Meeting in Harbin
Februari 24th, 2008
Today February 24th was the first day of formal meetings between the 2009 WU Organising Committee and the CSU and CTI delegates form FISU in Harbin, the host city of the 2009 Winter Universiade. The FISU delegates of the Supervision Committee and the International Technical Committee. The day started with the first Plenary Meeting. CSU Chair Karis Ulp and CTI Chair Roger Roth welcomed all delegates present and introduced all their committee members present. FISU Secretary-General presented the FISU Staff members present. Then the floor was given to the Secretary-General of the Organising Committee Mr. Han Guangru who welcomed all delegates present. Mr. Guo Mingyu, Director of the Sports Department of the OC introduced all representatives of the Chinese sports associations involved in the games as well as the representatives of the OC Staff. After the formal introductions Ms. Zheng Liping, Vice Secretary-General of the OC gave an update of the facilities. The Harbin Games will take place in three locations: the Jabuli Ski Resort, the Maoer Mountain Ski Resort for all snow sports and the city of Harbin for all ice sports. 47 infrastructural construction projects were launched. These projects are progressing smoothly as most of them have been accomplished well ahead of schedule.
Preparation Progress for Competition Venues
There are 17 infrastructural construction projects in the Yabuli Ski Resort, including the extension of the cross-country courses and downhill slopes for Alpine Skiing, the construction of a new K125 Ski jumping hill, speed ropeways, automatic snow making systems covering all the venues and the Snow Sport Competition Command Centre with a construction area of 10,000 sqm. Since the end of 2007, all venues are in use, except the K125 hill, which will be completed by the end of October 2008. In January 2008, the snow sport competitions of the 11th China’s National Winter Games were held in the Yabuli Ski Resort, these competitions served as a test event for the Harbin WU, with all the competition equipment and venues operating in good conditions.
In the Mountain Ski Resort, there are 4 construction projects of the competition facilities, including the 1,375 m long major ropeway project for the Alpine skiing venue, construction projects of the Half Pipe, and the Big Air venues for Snowboarding and the Biathlon venue. All these venues have been put to use, except that the electronic targets of the biathlon venue will be installed in March 2008.
All the 8 ice sports stadiums are located in downtown Harbin. There are 6 competition venues and two training facilities, which will provide 10 ice rinks during the competition events. The Stadium of International Conference, Exhibition and Sports Centre and 3 other stadiums have already been put to use. Another 4 stadiums will be accomplished their renovations by August this year.
Accommodation Facilities
In line with the FISU specifications, the OC will provide reception facilities for 3,000 participants. In the Yabuli Ski Resort, two five star hotels were built to increase the 452 double-rooms previously available. The Yawangsi Hotel, with a construction space of 36,000 sqm and 300 rooms, which can host international conferences and banquets. Another five-star hotel is the Yabuli International Conference Centre and Windmill Villa Hotel. It covers an area of 59,000 sqm and includes 314 rooms, which is still under construction and will be operational by November 2008. By then, the total number of rooms in the Yabuli Ski Resort will be increased to 1,066, completely meeting the accommodation demand during the events.
The Maoer Mountain Ski Resort can provide 500 beds. The renovated Reception Hotel, covering an area of 10,000 sqm, can provide 300 beds which will be completed in August 2008. The Athletes’ Village will be located in Heilongjiang University with two Students Apartments Buildings as the accommodation places for the athletes. They can offer 1,648 beds, equipped with cupboards and drinking machines, with separate toilets and bathrooms. Moreover, small meeting rooms will be provided for delegations as well.
The Victories Hotel, temporary FISU HQ in Harbin
Secretary-General of the Organising Committee Mr. Han Guangru (r)
Mr. Guo Mingyu, Director of the Sports Department of the OC
Transportation System
To ensure a smooth transportation operation, 46 million RMB has been invested to renovate the transportation system. The renovation projects include: the 24.4 km newly-built passenger railway to the Ski Resort; extension of the highway connecting Harbin and the Ski Resort of 20.6 km, the newly built 8 km road within the competition area with a 5,800 sqm parking lot and a helicopter pad. A convenient transport system integrating highway, railway and aviation has been formed connecting Harbin, Maoer Mountain and Yabuli. Highways are designed as two way and four lanes. From Harbin, it takes only one hour and 15 minutes to Maoer Mountain and two hours and a half to Yabuli in a safe and convenient railway trip.
The Ice Sports venues of Harbin are located in 6 different places. It takes less than 30 minutes to go from every venue to the Official Hotel. In addition, to ensure a smooth implementation of the event, renovation and expansion of the water-supply system, power-supply system, heating-supply system and communications system have been undertaken in the Yabuli competition area. Both sewage and garbage treatment factories have been newly built to provide perfect conditions for the WU.
