24th Winter Universiade Ends in Dazzling Finale

After an opening in full ‘grandeur’ last February 18th, the hopes and expectations were high and everybody expected the hosts would surpass themselves with the Closing Ceremony. And they did! After the FISU protocol of closing the games and passing on the FISU flag to the next host of the Winter Universiade, i.e. Erzurum, Turkey in 2011, the Chinese hosts gave the spectators what they came for: a dazzling show of light, costumes, dances and music and the incredible performances of acrobatic figure skaters. The hosts of 25th Winter Universiade also presented a performance by the Dance Group of the Atatürk University of Erzurum.

‘By hosting this Universiade in such a successful manner, the Organising Committee of Harbin and the Federation of University Sport of China confirmed its ability to organise a winter world class multi-sport event divided between three competition sites in the entire Province’, FISU President Killian said in his closing speech.

FISU President Killian‘The quality of the organisation and the operation of the venues encouraged the participation of world top ranked athletes and helped to increase the performance of our athletes reinforcing the establishment of the Universiade as a key sporting event in the international sports calendar. The importance taken by this event had amongst other things generated the highest live TV coverage ever for a Winter Universiade.’

‘I would also like to underline that the organizers put in place an amazing and very successful cultural program throughout the entire period of the event. The combination of the sport and cultural program during this 24th Universiade contributed to conveying in the best possible way FISU’s aims and goals’, Mr. Killian continued.

‘On behalf of my colleagues from FISU, I would like to express my highest appreciation to the authorities and population of the City of Harbin and of the Heilongjiang Province for their permanent support and cooperation. I would also like to give a special thanks to the university students throughout the country who served as Volunteers during the event and who did a wonderful job and contributed much to the overall atmosphere of the Games.

I would like to thank the athletes, coaches, administrators and government officials who contributed to the success of the Games. This message of friendship and peace, the heart of International University Sport Federation was well received by all.’

At the 24th Winter Universiade, 9 Universiade Speed Skating Records were broken whereas 2,366 participants from 44 countries took part in the games.

Erzurum is next!