FISU summons Granada OC to sign new agreement by December to maintain the 2015 Winter Universiade in Andalucia

Aurelio Ureña, Claude-Louis Gallien, Aleksandra Pilecka & Eric Saintrond

GRANADA – Last week, FISU President Claude-Louis Gallien and Secretary General/CEO Eric Saintrond attended a number of important meetings in Madrid and Granada for safeguarding the future hosting of the 27th Winter Universiade in Granada in 2015.

During their two days visit, the FISU delegates first met with Mr Sebastian Pérez Ortiz, President of the Provincial Government of Granada and afterwards with Mr Miguel Cardenal Carro, President of the National Sports Council on October 10th, 2012 in Madrid. Afterwards they transferred to Granada to meet on October 11th with Mr José Torres Hurtado, Mayor of the City of Granada, as well as an official delegate from the Regional Government and the Rector of the University of Granada, Mr Francisco Gonzalez Lodeiro.

These meetings were organized following the great concern from the FISU Executive Committee regarding the hosting and staging of the 2015 Winter Universiade in Granada and a deadline has been fixed for the end of November 2012 for a final decision to keep the Games in Granada.

Indeed, Granada has been granted the hosting rights for the 27^th Winter Universiade (2015) in 2009. However, due to the economic crisis in the region, the funding for the construction of the necessary competitions venues, mainly the ice rinks, has gone awry. In a region were snow sports are quite popular thanks to the Sierra Nevada, ice sports still need to be developed and ice rinks are lacking. To accommodate the ice sport competitions of the WU (ice hockey (M & W), figure skating, short track speed skating and curling), five ice rinks are needed. The initial plan to build a permanent twin ice facility as part of the Universiade legacy for the citizens of Granada and also to use three temporary facilities was abandoned as project investors backed out. The OC also faced some environmental issues in La Ragua, the venue set for cross country skiing and biathlon.

At a press conference organized in Granada, FISU President Gallien confirmed that FISU will do its outmost to preserve the Winter Universiade in Andalucia; nevertheless serious deadlines and commitments were submitted on the two major concerns, i.e. La Ragua and the ice rinks.

For La Ragua, the venue set for the cross country skiing and the biathlon, FISU expects to receive from the Andalucía Region the confirmation that the works on La Ragua venue can be implemented and the guarantee from the Provincial Institutions of Granada and Almeria that they have the funds to accomplish the works.

Regarding the ice rinks, FISU should receive the confirmation that facilities located outside of Granada city can be used for the ice sport competitions.

A new contract with all institutions the LOC Winter Universiade Granada 2015 is composed of should be signed soon.

FISU President Claude-Louis Gallien further explained his awareness regarding the economic difficulties arising from the crisis, hence offering the FISU network to facilitate as much as possible a successful development of the Winter Universiade in Granada. Among other things, Mr. Gallien recalled that FISU recently signed a contract with Eurosport which would ensure the continued promotion of Granada 2015 in the coming years as well as 40 hours of live coverage during the event.

C. Pierre, FISU Press Officer