Member Association News: NCAA President Visits FUSC HQ and 2011 SU Host City Shenzhen
October 30th, 2008
FUSC and NCAA delegates
From October 21st to 28th, and invited by China University Sports Federation, Myles Neil Brand, the president of NCAA, National Collegiate Athletic Association of the United States, lead a team of four senior officials to China. The seven-day trip covered three major cities of China, i.e. Beijing, Xi’an and the host city of 2011 26th Summer Universiade, Shenzhen. At the stop in Beijing, Dr. Zhang Xinsheng, Vice-President of FISU, President of FUSC and AUSF and Vice-Minister of Education of China, invited them to an official meeting at the Education Ministry of China. During the meeting, the two presidents had a interesting discussion over the common interests of the two parties upon promoting university sports not only within their own countries but also cross countries. On introducing the education system of both countries, the two presidents were pleased to find out that the common focus of the two federations had always been on the educational value of sports, which cultivated the all-round development of students and citizenship. Dr. Zhang also expressed his gratitude to NCAA, for their generous donation of 25,000 USD for the earthquake-stricken area for the purpose of rebuilding school sports facilities.
The two presidents had a chance to continue their discussion during the interview of Dialogue, the most popular talk show produced by CCTV-9, the English channel of China’s national television station. At the interview, they emphasized the great importance of establishing a cooperative relationship among different national university sports associations and jointly expressed their enthusiasm on promoting world university sports. At the next stop in Xi’an, an ancient capital city in west China, President Brand, joined by Mr. Yang Liguo, the Secretary General of FUSC paid a visit to Xi’an Jiaotong University. President Brand was deeply impressed by the first-class sport facilities this university provided to its students. They then watched a training session of the university basketball team on the campus.
As for the last stop of the trip, the two leaders of university sport paid a visit to Shenzhen, the host city for the 2011 26th Summer Universiade. President Brand was warmly welcomed by the executive office of the Organizing Committee. The Vice-Mayor of Shenzhen, Mr. Zhuo, received the NCAA and FUSC delegation at his office and expressed his willingness to have a strong team from the USA during the 2011 Universiade. He said Shenzhen was a young and energetic city full of wonders and ambition, Shenzhen people were expecting a best Universiade ever and had been working hard on that. He also invited president Brand to come back to Shenzhen in 2011.
President Brand and Secretary General Mr. Yang, were also warmly received by the top officials of the executive office for the Universiade. After the introduction of the preparatory work for the Universiade, the two leaders were convinced that the Shenzhen Universiade will be of great achievement and a festival for university students from all over the world. President Brand also expressed his willingness to play a bigger role in sending more strong teams to the Universiade to promote the games and made it a true celebration for world university students. The trip was ended with a big toast and many new wishes. Under the spirit of world university sports, the two federations will continue their efforts to further promote the games to a new high.
NCAA President Myles Neil Brand receives a gift from FUSC President and FISU Vice-President Zhang Xinsheng
NCAA President Brand and Vice-Mayor of Shenzhen Mr. Zhuo
NCAA President Brand and Vice-Chairman LOC Shenzhen 2011 SU Mr. Huang
NCAA President Brand and FUSC SG Yang Liguo
NCAA delegates visit the AUSF training center
