2019 Summer Universiade: Official Evaluation Visit

NAPLES – Following the official confirmation on the candidature of Naples (ITA) for the 2019 Summer Universiade and a series of working sessions between the Bidding City and FISU, the FISU Evaluation Committee, consisting of the First Vice-President Leonz Eder, the Summer Universiade Director Marc Vandenplas, the International Technical Committee – Summer Universiade Sub-Committee Chair Jean-Paul Clémençon and the Summer Universiade Manager Jing Zhao, is conducting the official evaluation visit to the city/region from 26 to 29 April in order to further review its candidature readiness.

Leonz Eder, the FISU 1st Vice-President with Fulvio Bonavitacola, the Deputy President of Regional Government

On the first morning, a general introduction meeting was held in the Mostra d’Oltremare, the exhibition centre of Naples, which is foreseen to be the main accreditation centre as well as the venue for various indoor sports. The meeting was chaired by the Deputy President of Regional Government Fulvio Bonavitacola, with the presence of the CUSI President Lorenzo Lentini and Raimondo Pasquino, the Referent of the 2019 Summer Universiade Bidding Committee, as well as experts and responsible persons from all relevant areas including CONI.

“This is a great opportunity for us, and also a great honour and challenge for our region. The Universiade will be a new chance for our region to reload our image, and a perfect mean to realise our projects for youth and sport development”, Fulvio Bonavitacola mentioned in his speech.

Leonz Eder, the FISU 1st Vice-President with Lorenzo Lentini, the CUSI President

Lorenzo Lentini strongly stated the support from the CUSI side: “It is our dream to bring back the Universiade for its 60^th anniversary to Italy, and to bring it to Naples. All Italian universities expressed their commitments and supports to the 2019 Summer Universiade, and the Universiade will belong not only to Naples but also to the entire university sport system of Italy.”

On behalf of the FISU delegation, Leonz Eder expressed his appreciation on the great hospitality as well as the organisation of this evaluation trip, and emphasised: “The Universiade is a team work between the Bidding City and FISU. This is what FISU has done for the first time successfully with Luzern for the 2021 Winter Universiade following the IOC Agenda 2020, and what FISU will continue to work on with Naples. The difference between a championship and a multi-sport event is that there are many other aspects surrounding the sport. It is the key point for us to receive detailed answers concerning all these during this evaluation and we are all looking forward to your presentations.”

The FISU delegates with Fulvio Bonavitacola, the Deputy President of Regional Government

During the general presentation, the Bidding Committee introduced their bidding concept and explained the sport experience of the region, the proposed venue allocations and the competition schedule, as well as their financial plan. Onsite venue visits were organised in the afternoon for the Evaluation Committee to have a direct understanding on the potential sport facilities and accommodation sites for the 2019 Summer Universiade.

This evaluation visit, lasting for three full days, will further cover all major aspects of the Universiade bid, including accreditation, food and beverage, medical service and doping control, security, transportation, media and promotion, Athletes’ Village, etc., and will conclude on 29 April with a final meeting to summarise all the outcomes, which will be presented to the FISU Steering Committee in May for their further evaluation.

(Source: SU Dept.)