Learning from Krasnoyarsk 2019 to prepare for Chengdu 2021

The opening of the World Conference on the Innovation – Education – Sport

KRASNOYARSK – FISU on Tuesday welcomed participants and guests to the 2019 FISU World Conference on Innovation-Education-Sport at the Grand Hall Siberia, where Vice Chair of the Committee for the Development of University Sport (CDSU), Shen Zhen, was one of several invested parties.

In his role, Mr. Zhen is currently in Krasnoyarsk to report to the FISU Executive Committee about what he and his colleagues have worked on in recent years, and what they will continue working on in the near future. But for now at least, at the conference itself, the Chinese national is here as an audience member, keen to learn more about the latest research on scientific innovations and enhance the sustainable development of winter sports, while also finding out the quirks of the host city.

“This is my very first time in Krasnoyarsk. Before we came here we heard a lot of stories about the meaning of the term Real Winter, and that the weather here was really cold, but we are here and the temperature is really nice and warm. But there is still some snow.”

Fortunately, however, the supposedly daunting temperatures – which reached an incredible -30 degrees Celsius just last month – haven’t been the main talking point for the FISU board member and his fellow countrymen.

“More importantly, the people in Krasnoyarsk and in Russia have great hospitality, so we feel very warm and accommodated.”

Like many others, Mr. Zhen has been greeted with open arms by those in and around the various 29^th Winter Universiade venues, but his visit is of great significance for not only the coming days, but also the coming years.

That is because China will play its part yet again in staging the summer equivalent of this major multisport event in two years. Said Zhen: “China has hosted the Universiade three times since 2001, and we will host the Summer Universiade in 2021, so we have experienced the preparations.”

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And while it may be an honor to play such a key role in the development of university sport, it certainly doesn’t come easy.

“I know exactly how huge the amount of work they have done before the games here in Krasnoyarsk has been. The Universiade is a big-scale event, and is not simply a combination of a few championships.

“We need logistics, we need customs, we need a lot of finance, we need technical officials.”

In a room filled to the brim with extremely busy and influential figures, Mr. Zhen is no exception, but even vice chairman are allowed down time, time which will be spent enjoying the events and spectating the array of talented athletes on show. And while there are a Winter Universiade-record 58 nations being represented across 11 sports, he is keen to keep this one a little closer to home.

“I would like to see some games of China, especially short track and figure skating.”

His country currently shares third place in the medal table with one gold and one silver medal, but Mr. Zhen is hopeful he can bring some luck to his nation in the coming days.

Article by Peter Lynch, International Young Reporter at the Krasnoyarsk 2019 Winter Universiade