CORDOBA – Yesterday evening, 23 July, the Opening Ceremony of the 13th World University Badminton Championship took place in the assembly hall, located in the Séneca Building, in the University Residence ‘La Asunción’, thus officially starting the Championship.
It was an event full of institutional symbols and formality, where firstly the Spanish national anthem was heard while the Spanish flag was raised. Afterwards a countries parade proceeded where each delegation was preceded by its national flag. The Spanish team paraded with ‘Ukito’, the mascot of the championship.
‘Ukito’, the mascot of the championship
Subsequently, it was the turn for the institutional speeches. The first member of the organizing committee was Mrs. Rosario Mérida who welcomed the delegations from the different countries. Later, Mr. Miguel Reina, the city councillor of sports of Córdoba, encouraged the student-athletes to enjoy the most important, i.e. taking part. He also highlighted the nomination of Córdoba as ‘European City of Sports 2014’. The last one to intervene was Mrs. Allison Odell, FISU Executive Committee member, who emphasised the pleasant impression towards the Sports venues as well as the great work of the organisation, especially the volunteers’ participation. Finally, Mr. Manuel Torralbo, as General Director of the Universities of La Junta de Andalucía declared open the FISU Championship. He expressed his gratitude towards the University of Córdoba for its trajectory organising international sports events and encouraged to continue with this extraordinary career path.
The FISU Flag was hoisted while the FISU Anthem ‘Gaudeamus Igitur’ was played. Then, as the protocol stipulates, an athlete from the host country, Marina Fernández, pronounced the athlete’s oath of sportsmanship, followed by the referee’s oath read by Amparo Rayo.
The event concluded with a cultural programme which mixed the art of flamenco with a graffiti demonstration and a break-dancer as entertainment for the audience.
(Source: WUC Badminton Media)