2009 SU Update: Curtain falls on 25th Summer Universiade – Shenzhen is Next!

Performers from Shenzhen, the next Summer Universiade host in 2011

Today, July 12th, the curtain fell on the 25th Summer Universiade hosted in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. For 12 days student-athletes from all over the world competed against each other in 14 different sports and lived together in harmony in a fantastic Athletes’ Village. 8,166 participants from 122 countries took part in this multi-sport event where 4 athletics and no less than 30 swimming Universiade Records were broken. Various Olympic and World Champions competed at these World University Games, as well as numerous Olympians and other elite athletes.

FISU President Killian hands over the flag to the Mayor of ShenzhenTonight the Universiade flame in front of the Belgrade Arena was extinguished by a giant robot while inside – in the presence of all Universiade participants Dragan Dilas, the Mayor of Belgrade returned the FISU five-star flag to FISU President George E. Killian who handed it over to Wang Rong the Acting Mayor of Shenzhen, the host city of the 26th Summer Universiade in 2011.

Ján Figel, Member of the European Commission Ján Figel, Member of the European Commission responsible for Education, Training, Culture and Youth congratulated the student-athletes with their performances and wished them good luck to continue their careers with ‘excellence in mind and body’.

Dragan Dilas, the Mayor of Belgrade thanked the volunteers and also the citizens of Belgrade for their patience.

In his speech President Killian once again thanked all the volunteers of the Universiade for the wonderful job they did, which was followed by a loud cheers from all athletes.

When Mr. Killian officially closed the Universiade a cultural performance followed, brought by the future Chinese hosts. When a choir of Chinese girls started to sing ‘Niska Banja’, a popular Serbian song, the Universiade volunteers started to sing along cheering and applauding. The moment the Chinese performers left the stage, music form popular deejays boomed in the Arena and a giant party for the students took off.

After competion, party time!