2021 WU Candidate: Evaluation Visit – Day 1

LUCERNE – The FISU Evaluation Committee, led by FISU Vice-President Marian Dymalski with the members Roger Roth, WU CTI Chair; Milan Augustin, WU Director and Paola Forni, WU Assistant met first with the Cantonal Council of Lucerne, Guido Graf and Mrs Ursula Stämmer-Horst, City Council of Lucerne. Mr Graf who is also the Chairman of the Association for the 2021 Winter Universiade Lucerne – Central Switzerland welcomed the FISU Evaluation group and underlined the importance of the Universiade for the six cantons of Central Switzerland. Mrs Stämmer-Horst stressed the fact that the Universiade is first of all a big sport event with positive side effects for education, tourism, sports development and social activities.

FISU Vice-President Marian Dymalski presents a gift to Cantonal Council Guido Graf

Marian Dymalski thanked the authorities, including also the Swiss University Sport Federation with Managing Director Leonz Eder, on behalf of FISU President Oleg Matytsin, but also in his own name, for the initiative to organize a Winter Universiade in Switzerland. “In my opinion, it’s a great idea to organize this event in six cantons. I believe that the 2021 Winter Universiade will be a very good occasion to promote worldwide Central Switzerland as a fantastic place to practice winter sports. For me it’s also very important that the University of Lucerne and the SUSF are actively involved in the preparation of the Universiade,” Mr Dymalski stated.

The Evaluation Committee, SUSF President Andreas Csonka, members of the OC and Beat Villiger, Cantonal Council of Zug in the locker room of the local Ice Hockey Club EV Zug

After a presentation at Lucerne University by the Chairman of the Candidate Committee, Urs Hunkeler, including a welcome message of the Principal of the University, Mr Paul Richli, the programme of the first day continued with a site visit of the Universiade Park with the famous concert hall at KKL Luzern and the Swisspor Arena which is foreseen for the Opening Ceremony. After the inspection of the Regional Ice Center of Sursee, the group transferred to the Bossard Arena in Zug, home of the top ranked Ice Hockey Club EV Zug, where the men’s Ice Hockey tournament will be held and also the semi-finals and final of the women’s tournament.

The Swisspor-Arena, venue for the Opening Ceremony

At that moment SUSF President Andreas Csonka and Cantonal Council of Zug, Beat Villiger joined the group for the presentation by Patrick Lengwiler, CEO of the EVZ and the following dinner in Zug. Marian Dymalski concluded the first day with a message of thanks to Mr Villiger for his contribution to the bidding process. “I am sure that you have a sufficient number of very good sports facilities, hotels, slopes and of course enough experience to organize this kind of event,” he said.

(Source: SUSF)