365 Days to go for Trentino

TRENTO – In 2013, Duomo Square in Trento will be hosting the Opening Ceremonies of two very important events: the 26th Winter Universiade, Trentino 2013 that will take place in exactly a year, and, in less than two months (precisely 71 days), the Nordic World Ski Championship, Fiemme 2013.

On December 11th, this historic square hosted a symbolic count down ceremony for the two events. The ceremony was attended by Sergio Anesi (Universiade OC President) and by the Tourism Councilor of the Autonomous Province of Trento Tiziano Mellarini (Fiemme 2013 OC President), together with Bruno Felicetti (Marketing Fiemme 2013), Marta Dalmaso (Sport Councilor of the Autonomous Province of Trento), Davide Bassi (Rector of the University of Trento), Alessandro Andreatta (Mayor of Trento), the Universiade OC members and a group of volunteers.

“We are very pleased to announce that already fifteen Countries – such as China, USA, Japan and Norway – have expressed their intention to participate”, Anesi said. “Trentino 2013 is going to be a modest edition from the financial point of view with an operational budget that’s less than a tenth of the Erzurum 2011 edition’s one. This, however, doesn’t mean that the 26th Winter Universiade will be a less incisive edition regarding the organizing and promoting capability.”

“The Universiade represents an opportunity for Trentino to generate new enthusiasm in the sport world and to support the promotion of sportive activity.” Councilor Dalmaso added. “Another great value is represented by the volunteering world that, with its work, makes possible the organization of this kind of events”, she concluded.

Tiziano Mellarini, both Tourism Councilor and Fiemme 2013 OC President, has underscored “the huge promotional impact of these events, which organization itself it’s closely related to the availability of volunteers. The Fiemme team is ready and it will be a basis on which the Universiade will be able to relay. In addition to the World Championship, Trentino will host Madonna di Campiglio’s 3Tre ski competition and Tour the Ski.” The Universiade and the Nordic World Ski Championship can be regarded as the first steps towards a candidature for the 2022 Olympics. “I’m aware of the difficult financial situation”, Mellarini carried on, “but the hope is for the economy to improve and, in the meantime, we have to look forward. The Olympics represent the right goal for the organizing process promoted by Trentino in the sport environment. We look in this direction.”

For Rector Bassi the Universiade “represents a great opportunity for Trentino and also for the University of Trento to carry on its promotional process also in the sport world.”

Mayor Andreatta also talked about the “great opportunity” that this event will be for the city, prizing “Trento’s welcoming capability”.

The competitions will take place on December 11-21, 2013, involving the following disciplines: alpine and cross country skiing, ski jumping, Nordic combined, biathlon, snowboarding and freestyle skiing, speed skating and short track, figure skating, ice hockey and curling.

For the 26th Winter Universiade, Trentino has taken over for Slovenia, and the organizing committee – presided by Sergio Anesi, together with the Secretary General Filippo Bazzanella – has accepted the challenge of organizing this edition in less than two years, a task that has been made possible by the great local organizing tradition.

Until now Italy has hosted the Winter Universiade for four times: Livigno 1975, Nevegal 1985, Tarvisio 2003 and Torino 2007 and the Summer Universiade three times: Torino 1959, Rome 1975 and Sicilia 1997.

(Source: Trento WUOC)