China

Shenzhen to host World Universiade

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-01-17 08:40

The southern Chinese city Shenzhen won Tuesday the right to host the 2011 XXVI World University Games, the International University Sports Federation (FISU) announced in Turin.

Delegates from Shenzhen cheer and celebrate after it was granted the right host the 2011 Universiade in Turin, Italy January 16, 2006. The 26th summer Universiade will be held in Shenzhen, a booming city in south China and a pioneer of China's reform policies. [Xinhua]

Shenzhen beat the other four candidates - Kaohsiung of Chinese Taipei, Poznan of Poland, Kazan of Russia and Murcia of Spain, during an executive meeting of the FISU at the Teatro Regio in Turin.

Xu Zongheng, major of Shenzhen and head of China's delegation, cried with joy after FISU President George Killian announced the result.

"To host the 2011 World Universiade is the wish of every single Shenzhen citizen. The whole city is waiting for the result even it' s midnight (2:00p.m. on Jan. 17, Beijing time) back in China," Xu said.

Shenzhen's local television broadcasted live the meeting when Killian announced the result.

"The Universiade will push the development of Shenzhen. I'm very excited about the result," Xu added.

Shenzhen was not the favorite as several world top level competitions will be hosted in China for the next a few years.

The women's soccer World Cup will be played in China and Beijing will host the 2008 Olympic Games.

Harbin in northeast China will stage the next version of the World Winter Universiade in 2009 and the Asian Games will be competed in Guangzhou in 2010.

"I don't know how many votes Shenzhen won during the poll, but the result is the wish of the 22 executive members of FISU," said Killian.

"Shenzhen is a new city of only 26 years old. They have done fantastic work and have a good plan. We have faith to them (to have a successful Games)," Killian added.