ALMATY – At 7pm sharp local time today, 8 February, the Closing Ceremony of the 28th Winter Universiade kicked-off in the Almaty Arena.
After a wonderful music and dance spectacle and the national anthem of the host country, all flags of the participating delegations were marched in the Arena, followed by all delegations.
Then the floor was given to Bakytzhan Sagintayev, the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, who together with FISU President Oleg Matytsin were centre stage to address the audience.
“I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the President of the International University Sports Federation Mr. Oleg Matytsin, to the whole team of this respected international organization for their efforts and belief in us,” the Prime Minister said in his speech. “Also, we express our gratitude to the athletes who inspired us with outstanding sports performances, gave us a lot of bright moments and emotions, showing beautiful and great sport. I also want to acknowledge the role of youth in the success of the Universiade and to thank the volunteers for their selfless work. Your help is priceless.”
PM Bakytzhan Sagintayev & FISU President Oleg Matytsin
FISU President Matytsin thanked the host nation for staging the Winter Universiade. “Another chapter in the history of World Universiades has come to an end. Twelve days of intense competition are over, and it is now time to pay due deference to all those, who made this incredible event happen. On behalf of FISU, may I extend the words of sincere gratitude to the Government of Kazakhstan, led by the President Nursultan Nazarbayev, and the whole Organising Committee of the Games!,” President Matytsin said. “Let me cordially thank all volunteers”, the President added. “Your kindness, your dedication, your readiness to help have won our hearts!” FISU President Matytsin also praised the citizens of Almaty who came in numbers to watch all events. “It is the unique, magical atmosphere, which makes the Universiade in Almaty truly special. Never in the history of Winter Universiades did we see such an enthusiastic and welcoming audience. Everybody could feel the warmness and an incredible cheering of tribunes filled with students, families and children. Dear people of Almaty, thank you for these unforgettable moments!”
At the end of his speech, the FISU President declared the Almaty Universiade closed.
After the speeches of the PM and the FISU President, the mayor of Almaty Baurzhan Baibek and the Mayor of Krasnoyarsk Edkham Akbulatov entered the stage for the passing of the FISU Flag.
Once the FISU flag was passed to the next host, Krasnoyarsk put on a dazzling show of music, dances and figures skaters to invite the university sport family to the centre of Siberia for the 29th Winter Universiade that will take place in March 2019.
The closing ceremony ended with the extinguishing of the FISU Universiade flame.
The volunteers of the WU!
Numbers
At the 28th Winter Universiade in Almaty, Kazakhstan, 2,481 participants from a new record number of 57 countries were accredited. The previous country participation record was 52 in Erzurum, Turkey (2011). The students represented a total of 545 universities worldwide. Breaking down these numbers we had 987 male and 634 female athletes as well as 657 male and 202 female officials.
Top three countries on the medal table are Russia (29 G, 27 S, 15 B), followed by host Kazakhstan (11 G, 8 S, 17 B) and Korea (11 G, 5 S, 5 B). The 255 medals at stake were won by athletes from 26 countries.
C. Pierre, FISU Press Officer
