News

Universiade kicks off with clourful Opening Ceremony

August 12th, the kick-off of the 26th Summer Universiade took place with the traditional Opening Ceremony. A third Universiade for China, after 2001 (Summer) in Beijing and 2009 (Winter) in Harbin. Therefore, the expectations were high as the Chinese are known to be masters in staging big shows. And once again the hosts did not disappoint. A dazzling and colorful show took place in front of 25,000 spectators giving the green light for 12 days of thrilling sport competitions between student-athletes in 24 sports. The giant screens showed a countdown and when this came to an end, a giant representing the spirit of the Opening-up and Reform Era opened the ‘Gate of the World' for the delegations to enter. Led by beautiful Chinese girls, the athletes walk along ‘Youth Avenue'. At the rostrum, they separate in two different directions and get seated in their designated sections. The three high ranking officials of the Universiade, Mr. Wang Rong, Vice-President of the Organizing Committee, Mr. Yuan Guiren, President of the OC and Mr. Killian, outgoing FISU President delivered their speech from the middle of the arena while surrounded by bright colors. At the end of his speech, Mr. Killian inviteed the President of China, Mr. Hu Jingtao to declare the Universiade open. It was a great honor for FISU to have the President of China open the Universiade. Besides Mr. Hu Jingtao, seven other heads of state were present at the Opening

Weightlifting Start List features 225 competitors from 40 countries in Shenzhen

The General Technical Meeting of the 2011 Universiade held at the Complex Training Hall of Shenzhen Sports School in the morning of the Opening Ceremony of the Games confirmed the presence of 225 competitors (145 men, 80 women) representing 40 nations from all the five continents in the weightlifting events. IWF President Dr. Tamas Ajan addressed the Delegation Leaders, wished all teams great success and was hoping for a powerful début of the sport at the Universiade.

IWF President Dr. Tamas Ajan hosted by new FISU President for dinner

The IWF President Dr. Tamás Aján arrived today in Shenzhen as a FISU Guest of Honour to the 2011 Universiade. His presence underlines the importance the IWF attaches to these Games and to weightlifting at the university level. As a welcome to the IWF President to the Universiade, just elected new President of FISU, Mr. Claude-Louis Gallien hosted Dr. Aján and IWF General Secretary Mr. Ma Wenguang for a gala dinner, on the eve of the Opening

24 sports awaited in Shenzhen with superb, Olympic-style facilities

The 1st Meeting of the Technical Committee (CT) Chairs of the 24 sports on the 2011 Universiade program held today at the FISU headquarters hotel, the Wuzhou Guest House confirmed that  Shenzhen was awaiting the Universiade participants with top-level venues and ultramodern facilities. Universiade delegations from 147 countries are now gradually occupying the Athletes Village: they will be 10,895 in total number of which 7,485 are competitors. 29,000 volunteers - mainly University students - are helping the Organising Committee. Weightlifting was represented at the meeting by CT Chair Anikó Németh-Móra and Technical Delegate Attila Ádámfi. The whole city of Shenzhen is decorated with flowers and banners; 5 new metro lines were opened and countless competition, training and other venues completed for the 2011 Universiade which no doubt enjoys Olympic-level and Olympic-style organisation, infrastructure and hospitality services.  As Ms. Móra expressed at the meeting: weightlifting is grateful to FISU and the 2011 Shenzhen OC for being on the Games program and expects to make a strong impact with a high number of lifters and nations

Anglo-Chinese cooperation in pre-Olympic preparations

Coordinated by the Anglo-Chinese Sports & Cultural Association and the Welsh Assembly Government, the Welsh Weightlifting Federation has welcomed the Chinese National team to Bangor University, where the squad is presenting undertaking in a pre-Olympic Games training camp. Comprising of 43 team members including Beijing 2008 Olympic Champions, Long Qingquan, Lu Yong and Zhang Xiangxiang, the Chinese delegation were formally received to Northern Wales on 05 August 2011 by the Mayor of Bangor, John Montgomery, David Wyn Evans, Head of Wales Pre Games Training and Ray Willams, General Secretary, Welsh Weightlifting Federation. ‘Not only does hosting the world's strongest team provide inspiration to Welsh athletes, their presence alone is also a demonstration to the Weightlifting family that Welsh Weightlifting is able to offer World Class facilities to visiting teams' said Mr. Williams. As part of their programme, the Chinese delegation also received a progress report from Matthew Curtain, London 2012 Weightlifting

FISU General Assembly Elects New President

Today, August 9th, the FISU Member Associations elected a new Executive Committee at the 32nd General Assembly in Shenzhen, China. The board will be chaired by the French Claude-Louis Gallien, former 1st Vice-President of the Federation. The former French University Hammer Throwing Champion won the election against incumbent George Killian (USA) with 76 votes to 67. There were four candidates for the FISU Presidency. Next to Killian and Gallien, Stefan Bergh (SWE) and Risto Nimienen (FIN) had been nominated by their respective National University Sports Federations. However, right before the vote, both federations withdrew their candidates for the presidency to ‘maintain the unity inFISU', as their respective presidents Akseli Hakala (FIN) and Johanna St:Clair Renard (SWE) announced prior to the election. Oleg Matytsin (RUS) was elected as 1st Vice-President. Mr Gallien holds a PhD in Biology and a State Doctorate in Natural Sciences. Shortly after the vote result, Mr. Gallien addressed the General Assembly, thanking them for their vote of confidence. His first speech as the FISU President was followed by a rousing