2011 WU Update: Working Session in Erzurum - Round Up

Venue for the Opening & Closing Ceremonies

ERZURUM – From June 10-12, 2010 the representatives of FISU Eric SAINTROND (BEL), WU CSU member /Secretary-General/CEO of FISU; Milan AUGUSTIN (SVK), Director WU and Dejan SUSOVIC (SRB) , Director Media & Communications have met the delegates of the 2011 WU Organizing Committee (EWUOC 2011) in Erzurum to finalize a number of issues which still were undecided since last CSU meeting held in March, 2010.

The group of delegates representingf the EWUOC 2011 during this working session was composed of the OC key people: Bekir KORKMAZ, General Coordinator of 2011 WU; Muhtar KURT, Chair of Technical Committee of OC; Mustafa YAPRAK, Sport Director of OC; Yavuz KONCA, Director of International Department of OC; Tülay TURHAN ARIKAN, Media Director of OC; Zeynep GEDIKKAYA, International Media Representative of OC; Mehmet OZDEMIR, IT & C & B Advisor; Aysun ŞAHIN, Advisor; Neşe Şahin OZDEMIR, Accreditation Director; Ugur KILIÇ, IT & C Director; Zehra ASCI, Broadcasting Director; Murat SANCAR, Sponsorship & Marketing Director; Özge ÖZBAŞ, Responsible for Sponsorship Department; Kenan ŞEBIN, Spectator Management and Ticketing Director and Cihat TUZENER, Deputy of Athletes Village Committee.

The working session between both parties ran smoothly and EWUOC informed FISU about the relevant decisions taken since last meeting. The following issues have been discussed and final decisions have been made as follows:

1. The Games Management System (GMS) has been finalized and a contract was signed. The GMS will be operated in collaboration with Turk Telecom’s IT company INNOVA and IT company EvMas.

2. The Turkish National Television TRT has been decided as Host Broadcaster for the WU and the responsible people have been appointed.

3. The decision to select the Timing, Scoring Systems and OVR has been made and a contract has been signed on June 10th, 2010. The TSR system will be operated by SWISS TIMING.

Other issues concerning VISA and TRAVEL (luggage procedure) have been discussed in detail and besides information, which has already been sent to all NUSFs 2 months ago, all rising questions will be answered during the Heads of Delegation meeting which will take place at the end of September 2010 in Erzurum. Important to note is that VISAS will be free of charge and from the moment that delegations arrive in Istanbul (both airports) or Ankara they will be guests of EWUOC 2011 in terms of providing free of charge charter flights from mentioned places to Erzurum. It is necessary to mention that the participation fee for the 2011 WU is 25 USD/person/day.

EWUOC has informed FISU that a Volunteers program will start at the end of June 2010 in order to provide all participants and to the overall organization the well-trained volunteers. Regarding this issue, EWUOC is in contact with people from the successful OC of the 2005 Summer Universiade in Izmir.

The Marketing & Sponsorship Department is progressing well to promote the Winter Universiade, not only nationally and but also on an international level. The launch of a new layout of the OC website (www.erzurum2011.gov.tr) 2 weeks ago gave a new dimension to the EWUOC to inform all readers, students, federations about the progress work of the OC. Inside the website downloads as well as on-line registration can be found.

The visit will continue with the inspection of the venues and talking with OC sport experts.

FISU is satisfied with the entire preparation work of EWUOC and with the progress of all visited sport and non-sport facilities, i.e. the ongoing construction work of the Athletes’ Village, the Ski Jumping hills, the Ice arenas as well as the Konakli resp. Kandilli and Palandoken venues. All of them will be finished this fall and looking forward to welcome the Heads of Delegations this September.

Moreover, last week and this week referees and coaches seminars in Ski Jumping were held under the supervision of FIS experts Mr. Horst TIELMANN (NED), Mr. Ueli FORRER (SUI) while a Biathlon seminar was supervised by IBU expert Ubaldo PRUCKER (ITA).

EWUOC and FISU hope that all these mentioned decisions and perfect conditions will attract a record of NUSFs to come to Erzurum and enjoy the Winter Universiade in the brand new Snow and Ice Sports venues.

(Source: Milan Augustin, FISU Director for the Winter Universiade)