Heads of Delegations' Visit: Questions and Answers
September 27th, 2008
Joe Morissette, representing Canada, during the questions and answers session
It was already the final day for the Head of Delegations' visit in Harbin, the city which will organise the 24th Winter Universiade next February. This final session was crucial because it gave the opportunity to the HoDs to point out some problems that could occur during the Games. Indeed, before the meetings and visits, all of them received the Head of Delegation's Manual which is THE document to be added to the 24th Winter Universiade Regulations. The manual describes in details all the organisational aspects of the Games and that is why it is so important. The HoDs were invited to fill in a form with all their concerns about these Games. Of course this is easier to do when you have a better idea of the general aspects of the Universiade and that is why the HoDs had two days of inspections.
Eric Saintrond, FISU Secretary General CEO presenting the TV programme
After the traditional welcoming speeches of Kairis Ulp, Chair of the Winter Universiade Supervision Committee (CSU) and of Mr Han Guangru, Secretay General of the Harbin OC, the session started with the answers to the HoDs' questions. The main points concerned: VISA application procedure, transportation, Opening and Closing ceremonies and the Harbin OC gave some detailed explanations to the HoDs. In fact, only a few questions were raised as everybody seemed to be very happy with the OC preparations' work. The draw for the ice hockey tournament (men) and the team selection for women's ice hockey, curling tournament and synchronised skating event were also on today's agenda. The women's tournament in ice hockey will be on the programme for the first time ever. After the draw, Mrs Kairis Ulp thanked the OC for the excellent work and Eric Saintrond FISU Secretary General gave a short overview of the TV Coverage programme during the games. Indeed, the regional TV, Heilongjiang TV, together with CCTV, will produce more than 120 hours of live coverage during the 24th Winter Universiade. For your information, more than 600 TV technicians will work in Harbin, with 10 OB vans in service and more than 130 cameras. Please note that the program will be distributed worldwide and no TV rights will be requested. The FISU has an agreement with the Eurovision network (EBU) and will offer each day a 60-minute pre-edited highlight to 1,000 TV Stations in the world. The signal will be available in the Pacific Area, in Europe and the Americas. Reuters and SNTV will receive the highlights for free with no embargo and no restrictions. The host broadcaster retains the domestic rights for China. FISU, in agreement with the organisers and the sponsors, will manage the international distribution through the Eurovision and Dominique Curchod Communication (FISU official consultant). Two satellite feeds will be booked for the live distribution. The FISU coordination team will coordinate all live transmissions and prepare a daily 60 minute-news and highlights feed. The satellite daily feed will be accessible at no cost by each registered broadcaster (no downlink costs or access fee). Live will be available at technical costs. Unilateral feed will be available on site for those broadcasters wishing to cover the event with their own facilities and journalists. Depending on formats and territories, exclusivity (excepting news access) could be given. Finally, Eric Saintrond thanked the 20 countries which attended this meeting. 48 countries are already registered at this time. So see you in Harbin next February.
Kairis Ulp during the draw
Team Draw Mens' Ice Hockey
Pool A Pool B
1 CAN 1 RUS 2 KAZ 2 SVK 3 CZE 3 USA 4 CHN 4 JPN 5 GBR 5 KOR
Women's Ice Hockey Selected Teams
1 CAN 2 FIN 3 CHN 4 JPN 5 SVK 6 GBR
Synchronized Skating Selected Teams
1 SWE 2 FIN 3 RUS 4 USA 5 SUI
Men's Curling Selected Teams
1 USA 2 GBR 3 SWE 4 CAN 5 KOR 6 SUI 7 CHN 8 JPN 9 NOR 10 FIN Reserve: POL
Women's Curling Selected Teams
1 CAN 2 RUS 3 JPN 4 SWE 5 GBR 6 CHN 7 USA 8 KOR 9 CZE 10 POL
