EvalCom 2015 SU in Gwangju - Day 2

Mayor Park shows EvalCom Chair Stefan Bergh the way at the World Cup Stadium Sports Park

On its second day in Gwangju, one of the three bidding cities for the 2015 Summer Universiade, the FISU Evaluation Committee members – Bergh (chair), Cabral, Ralethe, Tamer, Igarashi and Pierre (FISU Staff) – started the day with a presentation by the Bidding Committee. After this session the FISU delegates went on their first ‘road trip’ of the proposed venues while they were followed by a convoy of press vehicles as the visit of the EvalCom is widely covered in the regional and national press – printed and TV – as was the case the previous year when the city was running to host the 2013 Summer Universiade, but lost to Kazan, Russia.

Before entering the specially designed tour bus – Universiade logo design and integrated video system that shows a powerpoint presentation before each venue on the evaluation tour – the FISU delegates crossed the road to visit the construction site of the Intercontinental Hotel.

Once on the bus, the first stop of the evaluation caravan was the 2002 FIFA World Cup Stadium, a splendid venue which will be used for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and the Track and Field competitions. The FISU delegates continued their visit making a tour of the Sports Park where the stadium is located. Indeed, adjacent to this Football temple are Bitgoeul Gymnasium (basketball), Yeomju Gymnasium, Yeomju Aquatics Center, Yeomju Tennis Courts and Yeomju Archery Field. As these venues were extensively visited during last years evaluation visit the EvalCom only toured the Sports Park due to time restrictions.

Next stop on the tour was the sport infrastructure on the campus of Honam University. The Gymnasium will be sued for basketball while the football pitches will be used for training as well as competition.

Last stop before lunch was the Yeonggwang Sportium, another sports park with a Gymnasium (basketball) and a Football/Track & Field Stadium.

Mr. Bergh with the President of the KOC and KUSBThe FISU delegates were invited for an official lunch by the presidents of the Korean Olympic Committee and the Korean University Sports Board, Mr. Park Yong-Sung and Mr. Kim Chong-yang respectively.

In the afternoon the bus brought the Evaluation Committee members to Dongshin University where a new Gymnasium is being built which will be used for volleyball.

From there they continued to Naju Shooting Centre, a brand new venue for sport shooting as this is one of the proposed optional sports.

Mokpo GymnasiumLast stop on the road trip was the Mokpo Sport Park which consists of the Gymnasium (volleyball), an Aquatics center and several football pitches which are still under construction.

An official dinner followed where Mr. Bergh handed an official FISU gift to Mayor Park and Chairman of the Bidding Committee Chung Eui-hwa.

In the evening the delegates shortly attended a music concert at the University campus hosted by KBS, which will be the official broadcaster for the 2015 Summer Universiade.