9th WUC Archery Officially Opened

Opening Ceremony

CÓRDOBA – Spain is a country with a huge variety of climates and Córdoba is precisely one of the warmest. According to the National Institute of Meteorology, today we have had 36˚ C as maximum and 20˚C as minimum, and a maximum wind speed of 18 km/h coming from the East. There is no doubt that this fact could have been an inconvenient for the archers.

During this day the archers have been training in the fields that the University of Córdoba has prepared for this purpose at Rabanales. These training fields, together with the competition ones, are situated in the Stadium of Monte Cronos. Trainings have been developed correctly and the organization has no notice of trouble during the practices. 

The Opening Ceremony did also take place at Monte Cronos and started at 20.00 h. The act was directed by D. Hassan Chikh, FISU Executive Comittee member, together with Mr. Manuel Torres Aguilar, Deputy Rector of Student and Culture of the University of Córdoba; Salvador Hermán Gómez, delegate from “La Junta de Andalucía”; José Luis Marín Martín, P. A. S from the Rector’s Office; Agustín Palomares, Sport  Deputy of “Diputación de Córdoba” and Mr. Miguel Reina Santos, Sport Delegate from the “Ayuntamiento de Córdoba”, and father of the Spanish goalkeeper Pepe Reina.

Team Korea practicing

The tournament has started without any incidents. Mr. Hassan Chikh opened the event and introduced the members of the International Commission of Supervision, Control and Arbitration (CISCA). The Spanish anthem sounded while the different countries were marching and the Spanish flag was hoisted.

Once the parade concluded the Córdoba’s University Dean, Mr. José Manuel Roldán Nogueras stated the beginning of the tournament and the FISU flag was hoisted under the University’s anthem, Gaudeammus Igitus. Finally, the judges’ and athletes’ oaths took place. The event ended with a cultural performance by the Dance School of Sebastian Leal.

The volunteers guided the 26 National University Teams as their standard-bearers. About 150 archers will participate in the highest sportive university level, a tournament organized by the University of Córdoba and FISU. Some of these teams come from countries like Mongolia, Japan, USA, Romania, Poland, Malaysia or Croatia, among others.

It is necessary to highlight Elías Cuesta and Iria Grandal’s participation with the Spanish Team; they are number 45 and 80 in the World Ranking. Both of them will take part in the 2012 Olympic Games that will be held in London thanks to the privileged 9^th position they obtained at the “London 2012 OG Final Qualification Tournament” celebrated in Ogden, USA.

(Source: OC)