2011 WU Update: FISU President Speaks to Media at Traditional Pre-Universiade Press Conference

 From left to right, Leonz Eder, Roger Roth, George E. Killian, Bekir korkmaz, Kemal Tamer and Muhtar Kurt

ERZURUM – Today, January 26^th, one day prior to the opening of the 25^th Winter Universiade in Erzurum, Turkey, FISU President George E. Killian addressed the media at the traditional FISU Pre-Universiade press conference. The press meeting was scheduled in the Palan Otel, the Hotel for the FISU Family where the temporary FISU Secretariat is located.

Present as well for FISU were Roger Roth, Technical Chair for Winter Sports and Leonz Eder, Vice-Chair of the WU Supervision Committee. Speaking for the Organizing Committee were General Coordinator Bekir Korkmaz, TUSF President Kemal Tamer and Sports Technical Manager Muhtar Kurt.

‘You have a diamond in the rough here in Erzurum’, FISU President Killian told the press. ‘Maybe you don’t know it yet, but you will in the years to come. With hosting the Winter Universiade you have acquired some wonderful winter sport facilities which will be at the disposal of your citizens, students and youths. It’s fantastic what Erzurum and Turkey have accomplished here. FISU thanks you for your efforts and all venues and facilities you have built. We are only renting, you own it. Please use it.’

‘Huge works have been done to bring the Winter Universiade to Erzurum’, Roger Roth said. ‘New sports have been introduced and a lot of teaching and education regarding these sports have been done. I congratulate everybody for the hard work they have put in. Please continue to organize winter sport events otherwise this knowledge will be lost and the effort would have been in vain.’

‘A big thank you for the Turkish Sport Writers Association for your support of the University Sport in your country’, Leonz Eder commented. Since the first FISU meetings in Erzurum we’ve noticed a great readiness to learn. The proof is there, the WU will be fantastic.’

The Turkish media was very much interested in the details of the Opening Ceremony, however, Bekir Korkmaz only lifted a corner of the veil, telling that the Art Director of the ceremony is Mustafa Erdogan and his dance group ‘Fire of Anatolia’, the same who staged the successful Opening Ceremony of the 2005 Summer Universiade in Izmir.

TUSF President Kemal Tamer proudly stated that this is the biggest athlete delegation for Turkey at a Winter Universiade. ‘Except freestyle skiing and moguls, we have student-athletes competing in all disciplines. Participating in most events is already quite an achievement. Now we have to develop these new sports for us to win medals.’

With the organization of the Winter Universiade and Summer Universiade, Turkey joins the select club of countries that have done so, i.e. Bulgaria, China, Japan, Korea and Italy.

C. Pierre, FISU Press Officer

George E. Killian, FISU President (left) with Bekir Korkmaz, 2011 WU General Manager

Leonz Eder, CSU Vice-Chair, Roger Roth, CTI Chair and George E. Killian, FISU President

Great interest from the Turkish Media