Executive Committee Meeting in Brussels, Final Day
October 28th, 2008
The 2009 Harbin OC Delegates
On October 28th, the third day of meetings, delegates of the OC of the 24th Winter Universiade in Harbin, China, presented their progress report for the Games. Led by M. Han Guangru, OC Secretary General, the Harbin delegates have made an overall plan on the construction of the sports venues and infrastructures and drafted a construction plan fixing 47 infrastructural projects to be built or renovated. Among them, all the fixing construction projects at Yabuli Ski Resort have started. 29 projects will be accomplished at the end of this year. At Maoer Mountain Ski Resort, 2 of the 4 construction projects are finished and the remaining construction projects of biathlon and Big Air venues will be basically completed by the end of November 2007. In downtown Harbin, 10 newly-built and renovated construction projects are under way as scheduled, 3 of which will be accomplished by the end of this year. Also note that long track speed skating and freestyle skiing will be on the sport programme as optional disciplines (meaning that medals will be given for these events). Synchronized skating was also approved as a part of the figure skating. Please note that the dates for the 2009 Winter Universiade are from February 18th to 28th, 2009.
The 2007 Bangkok delegation led by Minister Wichit Srisa-an
Then the floor was given to the delegates of the OC of the 2007 Summer Universiade in Bangkok who gave a preliminary closing report of the Games. The Delegation was led by the Minister of Sport and Education of Thailand, Mr Wichit Srisa-an, and also by Mr Sumate Yamnoon, OC Executive Director. The Thai delegation gave us some relevant information about the post-Universiade organising process. All official documents and the official film will be sent to all participating nations by February 2008. Some figures were already available. 34,086 tickets were sold. 290,495 persons passed through the dining hall and 40, 656 meal boxes were ordered. 495 hours and 20 minutes of the Games have been broadcasted throughout the world. 146 hours and 34 minutes were broadcasted domestically. Broadcasting operated from August 7th to 18th. Also note that Mr Pisan Manawapat, Thai Ambassador in Belgium joined us during the FISU Reception held on Saturday, October 27th at the FISU Headquarters. To close this session, Director of WUC Laurent Briel gave an overview of the 2008 and 2010 Championships and gave an update of the championship calendar. Director of Education and Services Kole Gheloshaj gave an overview of the activities of his department. FISU Patronage was granted to the 2008 SELL Student Games. The next Executive Committee Meeting will take place from February 28th to March 2nd, 2008, in Harbin, China, host city of the 24th Winter Universiade in 2009. End (words by Yvan Dufour, Pictures by Nicolas Messner)
From left to right: Mr Pornchai Matangkasobut, President of the Thai University Sport Federation, George E. Killian, FISU President, Mr Wichit Srisa-an, Thai Minister of Education and Mr Sumate Yamnoon, Executive Director of the 2007 Universiade OC
