EvalCom 2015 SU in Gwangju – Day 3

On its last inspection day in Gwangju, one of the three bidding cities for the 2015 Summer Universiade, the FISU Evaluation Committee members – Bergh (chair), Cabral, Ralethe, Tamer, Igarashi and Pierre (FISU Staff) – started right away ‘on the road’ visiting more venues that are proposed by the Bidding Committee for competition and training during the games.

First stop on the road trip was Mudeung Stadium, one of the major venues with a seating capacity of 24,000 which will be used for football. The facility is located at 4km from the Athletes’ Village. After the stadium visit the transfer was made to the campus of Dongkang University where the delegates visited the Gymnasium which will be used for volleyball (1,500 seats).

Next stop was the campus of another university, i.e. Chosun University where the EvalCom members inspected the Gymnasium (fencing/1,000 seats), the football pitches and tennis courts. The party then continued to the construction site of Hwasun Gymnasium which will be finished by August 2009. The new venue will host the optional sport Taekwondo and has a seating capacity of 3,000.

Damyang Gymnasium was the committee members’ next stop and this venue will also be used for volleyball (1,800 seats).

The transfer was made to Suncheon Pine Hills Golf Course, as golf is another proposed optional sport by the Bidding Committee. The Pine Hills Golf club is one of the best in Gwangju and has a 27 holes course.

From there the FISU delegates continued their visit to the Suncheon Palma Sports Park with the Gymnasium where judo will be hosted and the Palma Stadium for football (12,000 seats). The last venue to be seen on the ‘road trip’ was the Gwangyang Gymnasium for handball with its adjacent football stadium.

After lunch the EvalCom members returned to the Kimdaejung Convention Center for their final meeting and closing press conference. The convention center is also proposed as host venue for the MPC and IBC during the Universiade. Across the center will be the FISU Headquarters Hotel, the Intercontinental which currently is under construction.

The EvalCom for the 2015 have now one more city to visit. From May 1st to 3rd the members will be in Edmonton, Canada for their inspection tour. The 2015 Summer Universiade will be attributed by the FISU Executive Committee on May 23rd in Brussels, Belgium.

Hwasun Gymnasium under construction and finished by August 2009

Chosun University Sport Fields

The Palma Gymnasium for handball

A lot of media interest at the press conference