FISU Steering Committee meets, takes key step towards Summer Universiade 2021 hosting

The pre-attribution contract signing of the Summer Universiade 2019 to Chengdu, China highlighted the events of the FISU Steering Committee meetings in Braga, Portugal today

BRAGA – At the regularly scheduled FISU Steering Committee today the hosting of the Summer Universiade 2021 was at the top of the agenda, with a delegation from Chengdu, China joining the meeting.

“It was a great honour to have the Mayor of Chengdu, Mr Luo Qiang, and his colleagues join us here in Portugal to share their vision for hosting the Universiade,” FISU President Oleg Matytsin said. “Clearly Chengdu is a city with both a rich history and a bright future. We feel very privileged to have the opportunity to be a part of that future, bringing the best student athletes from all over the world to Sichuan’s capital.”

 Summer Universiade 2021 pre-attribution contract signing with FUSC President Xue Yanqing (left), FISU President Oleg Matytsin (centre) and Chengdu Mayor Luo Qiang (right), with FISU Secretary General – CEO Eric Saintrond also signing

FISU Executive Committee (EC) members have also been informed of Chengdu’s candidature and an inspection visit is now planned for January, with the bid to be presented to the EC for formal approval at its next scheduled meeting on 28 February – 1 March, on the eve of the Krasnoyarsk 2019 Winter Universiade. 

“Twenty percent of the world’s university students are in China, and the national university sports federation has a clear and proven capability to host student sports events of the very highest quality, even at relatively short notice,” Matytsin continued. “We have no doubt that Chengdu 2021 will prove to be an exceptional Universiade that will make a lasting and very positive impression both on the participants and the city itself.”

 Chengdu delegate presenting the Chengdu 2021 candidature during FISU’s 2018 Steering Committee meeting

“Chengdu is a city that is open to the world,” Mayor Luo Qiang said. “Chengdu is also a city that has embraced young people and sport, both for new sporting practices and for more traditional events. And Chengdu is also an important centre of learning. We very much look forward to bringing all these elements together in a harmonious way, so that the young people who come here in 2021 return home having satisfied their sporting ambitions and with greater understanding that will serve them for many years.”

Joining President Matytsin and Mayor Luo in signing a pre-attribution contract were FISU Secretary General – CEO Eric Saintrond and FUSC President Xue Yanqing. This contract enables the Chengdu team to take their first steps towards hosting while the full process of candidature review, attribution and host city contract signature are followed.

Photo Credit: Nuno Conçalves / FISU