EvalCom 2015 WU in Granada – Day 3

Governmental Representatives and Mayors of 5 cities and villages, together with OC members and the FISU Evaluation Committee for 2015 WU

At the last day of the Granada evaluation visit, Alvaro Gijon, a former Olympic participant and four times cross country skiing competitor at the Winter Universiade in Jacca, Muju, Poprad and Zakopane, presented the Puerto de la Ragua venue facilities where Biathlon and Cross Country skiing will be held. “In order to make Granada as a complete winter sports destination, the Puerto de la Ragua region needs social and economical promotion,” Gijon said. For this reason the city of La Calahorra with 100 existing beds will get additional 500 beds to be built in new appartments. This small city, located at 103 km from Granada, will serve as a subcenter for accommodation for the athletes and officials from Cross Country Skiing and Biathlon. The legacy for the investment in the Puerto de la Ragua was explained as:
– sustainable ski resort
– improved roads
– natural landscape
– state of the art trails
– improved accommodation in La Calahorra

During the on-site visit on 2,000m altitude, the Evaluation group, composed by Eder (chair), Chikh, Dymalski, Matytsin and Roth learned, that “Granada 2015 is a sustainable visit and combines economic development with environmental protection.” Mayors from 5 cities and villages were present for a lunch in La Calahorra as well as some Governmental Representatives. All of them showed a great interest in the project of the Universiade and assured the FISU delegation about their full support of the 2015 WU.

After returning back to Granada, the OC hosted a final meeting with the FISU Evaluation team. Ignacio Valenzuela summarized the goals of the Granada bid as “a productive investment project that will make Granada and the province devoted to Winter sports.” He mentioned that the 2015 Winter Universiade aims to
– promote winter sports among the Spanish youngsters
– increase the participation of Spanish University students at the Universiade Granada 2015
– create the base of our national teams in the winter sports
– to obtain sports achievements”

The FISU members discussed some specific topics and gave the OC members some recommendations. The three days inspection visit was held in a very productive, but also friendly atmosphere. At the end of the meeting the Spanish officials expressed again their strong wish to host the 2015 WU in Granada and showed in a final statement the huge support they receive from all political levels. “One City, One University, One Mountain” – on May 23rd, the FISU Executive Committee will decide at its meeting in Brussels, whether this slogan will become reality.

La Calahorra, the subcenter for the accommodation of the Cross Country Skiing and Biathlon athletes

Puerto de la Ragua, the center for Cross Country Skiing and Biathlon

F.l.t.r.: Three key persons in the OC of the Candidate City of Granada: Ignacio Valenzuela, Eduardo Valenzuela, Alvaro Gijion