Harbin went wild on Monday the moment George Killian, president of the International University Sports Federation (FISU), uttered the name "Harbin" in Innsbruck, Austria.

The capital of Heilongjiang Province won a landslide victory in its bid for the 24th Winter Universiade in 2009, beating its rival Erzurum of Turkey.

"It's a great success, as well as a huge opportunity for Harbin, one of the largest cities in northeast China with a population of nearly 10 million," said Shi Zhongxin, the mayor and vice president of the bid committee.

The event will be the highest-level comprehensive sports competition the city has hosted since the third Asian Winter Games in 1996.

After losing its bid for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in August 2002, Harbin now hopes this new achievement will pave the way to a successful tender for the 2014 event.

"Hosting the Winter Universiade is necessary for bidding for the Winter Olympic Games again," said Zhao Yinggang, director of the Heilongjiang Provincial Sports Bureau. "It will be a bonus in helping develop winter sports in China, and the experience of organizing such an international sports event will be valuable for future preparations."

According to Zhao, after losing the Olympic bid, the provincial sports and education bureaus decided to bid for the Universiade in order to help prepare for a new attempt.

Winning the bid will not only bring benefits to the city, but also a new opportunity to promote winter sports.

"The hosting rights mean chances to motivate coaches and athletes," said Li Ming, chief of Heilongjiang's provincial Ice Sports Training Center. "The Universiade will offer us a wide stage."

National sports officials agree: "The hosting of the Universiade will certainly boost winter sports among university students in China," said Wang Yitao, director of the National Winter Sports Administrative Center.
 
"We will try to stage a Winter Universiade that is the best in history, with the largest participation and the highest-level of organization," said Cheng Youdong, vice governor of the province.

A detailed plan to revamp and upgrade existing sports facilities and venues has been mapped out; the current four stadiums and five training centers in the city are expected to meet overall FISU requirements.

The largest ski center, the Yabuli ski site in the city's suburbs, where most of the competitions may be held, will be renovated. Its slopes will be extended and more buildings and houses built to increase capacity.

The bid committee submitted a financial guarantee to the FISU and the city has vowed to give full financial support to the event's preparations.

An estimated US$1.3 billion will be invested for infrastructure construction and renovation, and another US$20 million will be allotted for organizing the event, reports Heilongjiang Daily.

The FISU announced at the same time yesterday that Belgrade, capital of Serbia and Montenegro, will host the 25th Summer Universiade in 2009.

The 2005 Winter Universiade started today in Innsbruck and runs until January 22.

(China Daily January 12, 2005)