Countdown to Trentino also started for Delegations

The 26^th Winter Universiade gets under way in exactly one week in Trentino, Italy, and the excitement can be felt within the delegations as well.

Biggest Canadian Delegation to WU

OTTAWA – Canada will once again be among the largest delegations at the biennial competition. But this time a record of 149 Canadians, including 107 student-athletes, will travel overseas for the FISU Winter Universiade. Two years ago, a contingent of 103 athletes (total delegation of 142) returned from Erzurum, Turkey, with five medals, including gold in women’s ice hockey, a trio of silver in short track speed skating and bronze in men’s ice hockey. “There’s no doubt in our minds that the Trentino Universiade will be memorable. The entire delegation is very excited, we can’t wait to get started,” said Canadian chef de mission, Gord Grace. “A lot of work goes into sending a delegation of this size to an international event. Our goal is to provide Canadian student-athletes with the best possible support and environment so they can focus entirely on their performances once they get to Italy.” Olympic gold medallist Guillaume Bastille highlights the Canadian short track roster. The former WU medallist represented Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, where he helped the red and white relay short track team capture gold.

(Source: Michel Belanger, CIS Communications Manager)

Swiss get dressed for Trentino

 Fredi Schneider (HoD), Leonz Eder (FISU VP) & Andreas Csonka (SUSF President)

ZURICH – Fredi Schneider, the new head of the Swiss delegation for the Winter Universiade in Trentino, and all his staff met with the athletes and officials in Zurich for a kick-off meeting. The whole delegation received the official team equipment and were welcomed by SUSF President Andreas Csonka and FISU Vice-President Leonz Eder.

Fitting of the WU Equipment

After the fitting of the equipment, the management of the Swiss delegation including team doctor Walter O. Frey gave all the athletes and officials an overview about the Universiade in Trentino. The programme of the competition was discussed as well as the different locations for accommodation, training and competition. Switzerland will send teams in alpine skiing, cross country skiing, Nordic combined, ski jumping, curling, snowboarding, freestyle skiing and figure skating. The SUSF delegation consists of 59 athletes and 29 officials.

(Source: Daniela Erni, Swiss Media Team WU 2013)

GBR to compete in Curling, Ice Hockey, Cross-Country Skiing & Snowboard Cross

Med Student Luke Piggott from Cardiff University will be the GBR Flag Bearer at the Opening Ceremony

LONDON – Anticipation also continues to grow among the athletes and staff of Team Great Britain (GBR). Team GBR is made up of five squads – Curling, Ice Hockey (Men’s and Women’s), Cross-Country Skiing and Snowboard Cross. The team is made up of 78 persons in total, including 52 athletes. Team GBR Chef de Mission Neil Rogers said: “With just one week until the Opening Ceremony I am pleased to report that Team GBR are well prepared and excited to start competing in Trentino. This is our second-largest ever delegation, and each team has spent recent weeks training and preparing specifically for this unique multi-sport event. We greatly look forward to settling into our Games accommodation and for all the action to start!”

(Source: Richard Browne, BUCS Media Officer)