2011 WU Update: FISU EC Members Visit 2011 WU Venues

The FISU Delegates in front of the K120 tower on the ski jumping hill

Today, November 12th, 2009, the members of the FISU Executive Committee, who arrived yesterday for the EC meeting hosted in Erzurum from November 13th to 14th, visited a number of the venues under construction for the 2011 Winter Universiade. As the construction works are developing well, the EC members were impressed with the building sites of these venues.

Aerial view of the Athletes’ Village with 2 buildings still under construction

The morning visit started with the inspection of the Athletes’ Village which is located on the campus of Atatürk University, the biggest higher education institute in the region with a student population of forty thousand students following lectures in 17 faculties, 5 colleges, 15 vocational high schools, 6 institutes and 16 research centers.

On campus, the FISU delegates visited the dormitories and the dining hall which can cater 1,000 student-athletes at the time.

After the campus visit the FISU ‘convoy’ drove direction the twin ice rinks which are located only five minutes from the Village. Both are still under construction and are destined for the ice hockey tournament, a 3,000 seating capacity arena for the men’s competition and a 500 seating capacity for the women’s competition. Both arenas will host the IIHF U18 Div. III World Championship in 2010 as test event. The delegates also visited the existing ice arena, which already successfully hosted the IIHF U18 Div. III World Championship in 2009 as a test event. During the WU this arena will be used for figure skating. Next to this ice rink another one is under construction. In this arena the short track competition will be held.

The visit continued towards the jumping hill which will without doubt become the landmark of the city of Erzurum. While structural work of the K90 tower has been finished, the K120 tower is still in scaffolds. However, the sight of this top-notch venue to be is already spectacular. The Athletes’ Village is situated at the foot of the jumping hill which gives it a special dimension.

The last stop was made on the Palandöken Mountain at the half pipe venue for snowboarding. At the same venue the moguls and border cross competitions will be organized.

The proximity of all venues will without doubt make the 2011 Winter Universiade a very pleasant one.

After lunch the FISU delegates took part in different meetings, i.e. Steering Committee, Women’s Committee and Committee for the Development of University Sport.