FISU returns to Krasnoyarsk to inspect WU 2019 venues and Athletes’ Village

KRASNOYARSK — With just vestiges of winter remaining on the alpine ski runs inside the city limits of this Siberian hotbed of winter sports, FISU delegates headlined by First-Vice President Leonz Eder started a five-day inspection visit on Tuesday for the upcoming Winter Universiade.

FISU Executive Committee member Fernando Parente, FISU Winter Universiade Director Milan Augustin, Winter Universiade Event Manager Jiho Kim, FISU Media & Communication Manager Torin Koos, and external protocol expert Tatiana Andrushka comprise the rest of the FISU team in Krasnoyarsk as the group assesses the preparation process for the next Universiade, which will take place 2-12 March 2019.

FISU’s visit to Krasnoyarsk is a steady mix of strategic discussions and operational meetings mixed with venue inspection visits 

The FISU team is conducting a series of working meetings and inspection visits to all the sports venues and the Universiade Village and Main Press Centre, in the lead-up to the Winter Universiade.

FISU meeting with Krasnoyarsk organisers and the competition venue manager at the cross-country and ski orienteering venue

“Russia is a very experienced host of international sports events and the organising committee in Krasnoyarsk is full of young people working very hard to provide excellent services for all the participants coming to the Krasnoyarsk 2019 Winter Universiade,” Mr. Eder said.

Mr. Augustin also spoke highly of his latest visit to the Russian host city, remarking that “having a Winter Universiade with such high international standard gives us the guarantee that this will be a great student event.”

Already, the infrastructure for the Krasnoyarsk 2019 Winter Universiade is having positive effects for sports persons and the general public alike

The FISU delegation also intends to discuss the Universiade Park and cultural programme arrangements. An academic hub with more than 120-thousand university students attending nine neighbouring instititions of higher education, Krasnoyarsk is set to be the fourth Russian city to host the Universiade — and the first to ever hold the winter edition.

FISU last paid a visit to Krasnoyarsk in March 2018 during a Winter Universiade 2019 test event, the Russian Cup stage “Tzimik Memorial,” a Russian Alpine Skiing Championship sanctioned by the International Ski Federation (FIS).

A file photo from October 2017 during another FISU visit to the upcoming Winter Universiade host city as the organising committee’s general director, Maxim Urazov, speaks

Krasnoyarsk is set to remain a major player in international university sport and education circles as the Siberian city will host the FISU Forum in August. This event is expected to garner over 200 participants for five days of workshops and discussions about how to best use physical activity and education to enhance the trajectory of today’s students so that they can become tomorrow’s leaders. The competition arenas around Krasnoyarsk will host several more test events to dial-in all aspects of sports events before the Winter Universiade as well, starting 1-8 October with Ice Hockey.

“Almost nobody has been in Siberia before,” Mr. Eder said, in explaining the attention that the upcoming Winter Universiade host city is generating amongst student-athletes. “”This is just one more reason to be excited to visit Krasnoyarsk and compete in this part of Russia.”

By Torin Koos, FISU Media and Communication Manager