2011 WU Update Day10 – Final Press Conference

 From left to right: Roger Roth, CTI Chair, Leonz Eder, CIP Chair and George E. Killian, FISU President

ERZURUM – With one more day left to the closing of the 25^th Winter Universiade, FISU held its traditional press conference to wrap up the Games.

‘2,457 participants from 52 countries were present at this 25^th edition of the FISU Winter Games and overall this edition can be considered a big success and a country participation record’, FISU President George E. Killian told the press that gathered at the PalanOtel, the temporary FISU Headquarters during the Universiade.

‘Turkey might have won only one medal so far, but I’m confident in 10 years time your athletes will be more present on medal podiums of winter sports as you have built some magnificent venues here where you can develop all snow and ice sports’, Killian said.

‘I confidently can say this is one of the best Athletes’ Villages we have had’, the FISU President added. ‘If you have a good place to sleep and eat it gives you strength to compete well. And that’s what happened here in Erzurum. Everybody has been praising the Village and the food. In name of FISU I thank everybody who made a contribution for the success of these Games.’

General-Coordinator Bekir Korkmaz thanked the FISU President for his kind words and added that the success of the WU was accomplished by the synergy and hard work of all parties involved.

‘Winter sports are not summer sports and you are dealing with a total different organization’, TUSF President Kemal Tamer said. I thank the FISU Executive Committee for the opportunity to host another Universiade in Turkey.’

‘Since the beginning we had a very good cooperation with the OC’, Supervision Committee Vice-Chair Leonz Eder commented. The meetings became shorter and shorter and we made progress every time.’

‘If you look at all the great pictures and stunning TV images it all looks so natural, but the work behind the scene has been monumental and I can assure you people didn’t sleep much’, Roger Roth, FISU Chair of the Technical Committee added. ‘However, the atmosphere was always very friendly and nobody complained. Everybody gave 150% to have the job done. Excellent work!’

With the Closing Ceremony coming up where the FISU flag will be handed over to the Organizing Committee of the next Games, all heads will be turned to Maribor, Slovenia for the 2013 Winter Universiade.

C. Pierre, FISU Press Officer

George E. Killian with Bekir Korkmaz, General Manager of the Erzurum Winter Universiade