Oleg Matytsin to Media: Sportspersons showed their strength in Taipei

 Two world records and 36 Universiade records were set last month in Taipei. FISU President Matytsin attributed this elite level to countries seeing the Universiade as ideal prep for the Tokyo Olympic Games –  an event which will take place in the same time zone under similar conditions 

MOSCOW – FISU President Oleg Matytsin spoke to Russian media on Wednesday in TASS News Agency. The conversation centered on the elite level of competition at the recently completed Taipei Summer Universiade and the lessons the organisers of the next Winter Universiade in Krasnoyarsk could learn from their time in Taipei.

President Matytsin said the athletes in Taipei really delivered throughout the 21 sports and 271 medal events that took place from 19-30 of August. The FISU President remarked that 2 world records and 36 Universiade records were set during these twelve days of competition.

President Matytsin (centre) and Krasnoyarsk 2019’s Maxim Urazov (left) had much to say about university sports during the Moscow event 

“The interest towards the Universiade was very high – as was the athletes’ level,” Dr. Matytsin said. “World records in archery and weightlifting were established at the competitions as over 200 Olympians took part in the Universiade. The high level of competition corresponded to this international standard.”

The Asian countries in particular fielded historically great teams in Taipei. Japan led the medal standings with 37 gold medals and 101 medals (37-27-37). South Korea (30-22-30) and host Chinese Taipei (26-34-30) followed close behind and impressed in an array of team and individual competitions.

 President Matytsin officially opening the Taipei Summer Universiade 2017 last month

According to FISU President, this was by design. “Many countries saw the Universiade in Taipei as preparation for Tokyo 2020, with competitions taking place in the same time zone and under similar conditions.”

Joining FISU leader on stage was the executive director of 2019 Winter Universiade Krasnoyarsk, Maxim Urazov. With the Siberian city set to host the next Universiade in 17 months’ time, Urazov spoke about the intense interest the event is already generating.

“We have already received over 7,500 applications from more than 30 countries to participate in the volunteer programme,” Urazov said. “People want to not only gain new knowledge, new skills and make new acquaintances, but to also see Russia, see a comfortable and modern city in Siberia.”

Krasnoyarsk 2019 team members were in Taipei city throughout the duration of the Summer Universiade to learn as much as possible from the FISU Observer Programme, which take future host countries behind the scenes to share the best practices of putting on large-scale multi-sport events.

“From August to the end of 2018, we will conduct test events for the facilities to check the infrastructure and test the staff interaction to get ready for the Universiade,” Urazov said. “We’re doing everything to make these competitions one of the best in history. We will surprise in a good sense of the word.”

President Matytsin handing over the FISU flag from the Taipei 2017 to Napoli 2019 organising committee. The Italians will host the Summer Universiade on its 60th birthday. 

According to President Matytsin, an absolute world-class level will also been seen from the Krasnoyarsk competitors. “The Universiade is a stage for the final preparation of new sports stars. I believe we will see more countries consider this as part of their plans, as demonstrating high sports results is very important.”

 FISU and the university sport movement were well represented in Moscow this week