Chengdu on track for Summer Universiade 2021

FISU conducts Summer Universiade 2021 evaluation visit to Chengdu

CHENGDU – A newly conceived 40,000-capacity stadium was one of the main venues visited by a FISU delegation in Chengdu, China ahead of the Summer Universiade 2021. Following the signing of a pre-attribution agreement between FISU and the city of Chengdu, this FISU delegation led by President Oleg Matytsin arrived in Chengdu for the first evaluation visit.

During a meeting with city mayor Luo Qiang, the FISU delegation – including Treasurer Bayasgalan Danzandorj, Summer Universiade Director Marc Vandenplas and Deputy Director Jing Zhao – received a quick update on all developments since the parties first met in Braga, Portugal, at FISU’s Steering Committee meeting last month.

Following the meeting with the mayor, the delegation visited several venues starting with the construction site of the Crown Lake Sports Centre.

This venue can hold around 40,000 spectators and will host the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as track and field competitions in the summer of 2021.

The delegation also visited the campus of Chengdu University, which will house the Universiade Village as well as the volleyball competition venue. FISU representatives met the president of the university, Prof. Wang Qingyuan and reviewed the university facilities, including the library, the canteen and the dormitories.

Next on the agenda was Shuangliu Sports Centre, which may be used as the main training venue for athletics, following which the team also visited the construction site for basketball in the Hi-tech Zone Sports Centre Stadium.

This venue in the southeastern part of Chengdu is part of a large-scale sports cluster which is designed to allow easy access to sporting facilities to residents in the future, in addition to hosting major sports competitions.

After the venue tour, FISU and the leaders of Chengdu met for a working session where the heads of various departments of the city administration presented comprehensive reports on their plans and preparation for the Universiade.

FISU President Oleg Matytsin appreciated the progress that had been made and said, “Our team is amazed by the quality of the presentation. All of the presenters have already shown an incredible knowledge of FISU’s minimum requirements.”

Before leaving Chengdu, the FISU delegation also met with the Governor of Sichuan Province Yin Li and visited the famous Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, one of the world’s most important centres for research and protection of giant pandas.

Chengdu’s bid for the Summer Universiade 2021 will officially be confirmed during the upcoming FISU Executive Committee meeting from 28 February – 1 March 2019 in Krasnoyarsk, Russia.