2011 WU Host City Erzurum will host 2019 Winter EYOF

BAKU – Erzurum, Turkey, the former host city of the 25^th Winter Universiade, will stage the winter edition of the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) in 2019. The Turkish city was the only candidate but was praised and appointed by the European Olympic Committees at its 43rd General Assembly in Baku, Azerbaijan as being a “very strong” candidate.

More than 1,500 young athletes are expected to compete at Erzurum when it holds the Festival between February 9 and 16 in five years’ time.

“In Turkey we are committed to ensuring that sustainability is at the forefront of our minds when we are hosting these major events and we have been eager to use the wonderful facilities from the Winter Universiade in 2011 to continue to promote sport participation among our nation’s many young people,” said Uğur Erdener, President of the National Olympic Committee of Turkey. “As you all know, 40 per cent of the Turkish population is below the age of 25. They are the perfect place to start to ensure that we create a society which holds the Olympic values at its core. The people of Erzurum are passionate about their city as a destination for exciting winter sport events and will be delighted to welcome their fellow athletes from all over the continent in 2019.”

Maja Vtic (SLO) ended 4thFISU can confirm this passion for sport shown by the Erzurum citizens. The Universiade in Erzurum was well received by its citizens and was a great success. Venues were packed with sport fans. It also left the city with a great legacy: ice rinks, alpine ski slopes, a biathlon venue and one of the most modern ski jumping towers and hills in the world. However, earlier this year a great tragedy occurred when a landslide almost completely demolished the landing area of the ski jumping venue leaving the future of ski jumping in Erzurum uncertain.

The 25^th Winter Universiade in Erzurum which ended on 6 February 2011 will also remain in the history of FISU as being the first to bring participants from 52 countries to a FISU Winter Universiade. “We believe that the first multisport winter games organized by Turkey will leave an important legacy in the country for the young sportsman and woman of the future”, then FISU President Killian addressed the crowd at the marvellous closing ceremony.

Indeed. Erzurum in Eastern Turkey further developed as one of the country’s finest winter sports destinations which already has an impressive portfolio of hosting major international events besides the 25^th Winter Universiade, including the FIS Junior Nordic World Ski Championships, the FIS Snowboard Junior World Ski Championships and IIHF Junior Ice Hockey World Championships. Many of the facilities used and built for the Universiade – both sporting venues and accommodation – will host athletes and guests in 2019 as part of Turkey’s commitment to a sustainable Games.

C. Pierre, Press Officer