Over 1,700 students are expected to participate in the Winter Universiade-2017.
During a press-conference dedicated to the opening of the Winter Universiade in Almaty, the President of the International University Sports Federation (FISU) Oleg Matytsin shared his thoughts on the important mission of participating students and named the exact number of participants.
“I’d like to thank you all for the attention to such a global project as the World Universiade in Almaty. I believe this project will have a long lasting heritage for the city, country and for the international sports movement. The Universiade in Almaty has already set some records, firstly in the number of participating countries and participating universities. I would like to focus on this aspect particularly as not only the participation of national teams matters but the participation of the universities as well. Students are the heart of the project as all we are doing here, all the competitions and cultural events we are organizing, are aimed at making students feel as a one big sports family. We want them to be sport ambassadors in their own countries and to spread the information about this wonderful city, which is hosting this sporting event and gives us a chance to feel the spirit of friendship and mutual understanding. Through sports, we are bringing up new leaders, people who will be responsible for the future of their countries. This kind of integration of education and sport is unique,” said Mr Matytsin.
FISU President also named the exact number of the Universiade participants.
“The representatives of 32 countries have been accredited so far. Participants from 57 countries in total have registered for the event. As you probably understand, many athletes will arrive right before the start of the competitions. Students from 578 universities from all over the world will take part in the Universiade. We expect more than 1,700 athletes and about 1,000 officials.”
The following 12 disciplines have been included in the program of the Universiade this year: figure skating, short track, alpine skiing, snowboarding, biathlon, cross country skiing, ice hockey (men/women), curling, ski jumping, Nordic combined, speed skating, and freestyle. The official opening ceremony will take place in Almaty on January 29.
