The 2033 WU Project in Mongolia

ULAANBAATAR – A ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ (MoU) was signed on 16 October, 2014, between the city Ulaanbaatar, represented by Mr. Bat-Uul E., the City Mayor; Mr. Bayasgalan D., the President of NUSF Mongolia with FISU, represented by Mr. Claude-Louis Gallien, FISU President and Mr. Eric Saintrond, FISU Secretary General/CEO, where the City of Ulaanbaatar has the intention to organise the 2033 Winter Universiade and where both sides agreed to cooperate in the frame of the ‘2033 Winter Universiade – Ulaanbaatar Project’. Within the framework of this MoU, Mr. Milan Augustin, Director of the Winter Universiade and Mr. Roger Roth, Chair of the FISU International Technical Committee of the FISU Winter Universiade visited Ulaanbaatar from 6 to 10October, 2015.

Winter Universiade Workshop

The inspection visit was divided into three parts. First of all, the Winter Universiade Organisation workshop was held in the City Hall of Ulaanbaatar. Active presence at the seminar of about 60 representatives from 20 different institutions and universities, the Ministry of Health and Sports, Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, City Government department of Sports, NUSF Mongolia and the National winter sports federations (NSF) was noted. FISU delegates gave information about FISU, the Universiade and the Minimum Requirements for a Winter Universiade. The WU workshop was a successful event, with a dynamic participation from the attendees who were actively interacting and sincerely desiring to organise a Winter Universiade in their home country in the near future.

In addition, the FISU Winter Universiade delegates met with high-placed authorities of Mongolia and the City Government. Separate meetings were held with Mr. Enkhtsengel Ts., the Deputy Mayor of Ulaanbaatar City and the Head of the working group for the future Winter Universiade; Mr. Boldbaatar T., the Deputy Minister of Health and Sports of Mongolia; Mr. Bayasgalan, the President of the Mongolian Students Sports Federation and Treasurer of FISU and Mr. Odbayar O., the Chairman of the Department of Capital city planning of City hall, together with the department’s staff, Presidents and Secretary-Generals of the national winter sports federations of Mongolia.

Inspecting the Sky Alpine Resort

Finally, the inspection visit continued with visiting some proposed venues for building sports facilities and acquainting with the concept drawings of a Universiade Village that will be built in the future. The visited venues included the ‘Sky Alpine Resort’ in Bogd Khaan mountain area, ‘Buyant Ukhaa Sports Palace’ which was assessed for the possibility of using it for ice hockey purposes, ‘Khandgait Resort’ ice rink inspection, outdoor speed skating stadium, cross country skiing and biathlon areas for building snow sports facilities. The FISU delegates also travelled to ‘Berkh Mountain’ in Gachuurt village to assess the possibilities of alpine skiing facilities that will be constructed for the future and a Universiade Village area for student campus ‘Nalaikh’ in Khonkhor area.

Work Meeting with the Deputy-Minister for Sport

During their visit, the delegates discussed about a future collaboration between FISU and the City Government of Ulaanbaatar, share their experiences, to exchange on working plans to prepare for the Universiade, evaluate conditions on site, define some other arrangements with FISU in the forthcoming years, including advise on the venue constructions to be built in Ulaanbaatar in the frame of the ‘2033 Winter Universiade’ project while the local parties will do some research on opportunities to organise FISU World University Championships such as speed skating and ski orienteering in Ulaanbaatar, as interim steps to comply with FISU standards and ISF rules.  

Meeting with the Mayor

At the end of the inspection, the FISU representatives issued the ‘Official Recommendations’ to Mr. Enkhtsengel Ts., Deputy Mayor Ulaanbaatar City, Head of the working group for future Winter Universiade to give the necessary suggestions for further processing to the authorities of the City Government, which included the outcome of their visit. According to the recommendations, a study team will be formed which will work on the organisation of the Winter Universiade while learning from the experiences of other cities which hosted and/or will host the Universiade in the future. Also, the FISU delegates recommended infrastructure facilities should be build close to the city and be available for general use afterwards, as a legacy after the Universiade.

Finally, the FISU WU delegates completed their three-day visit in Ulaanbaatar assessing that the City of Ulaanbaatar is potential candidate for the Winter Universiade in terms of its weather conditions, natural environment and territory if the team would focus on the long term concept.

(Source: D. Jargalsaikhan, Secretary-General MSSF)