Background Information of the 26th Summer Universiade, Shenzhen
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China.org.cn, July 22, 2011
By the Organizing Committee of the 26th Summer Universiade, Shenzhen
July 22, 2011
1. About the 26th Summer Universiade, Shenzhen
The Universiade, which is organized by FISU, is a large-scale international comprehensive sports event. Participating athletes should be university students and those have graduated from a post-secondary institution in the year preceding the event with age between 17 and 28. With its precursor as International University Games, the Universiade was initiated in 1959. By March 2009, the Universiade has been held for 25 times.
The 26th Summer Universiade, Shenzhen (also referred to as Shenzhen Universiade) will be held from August 12 to 23,2011. By 5 pm on July 21 (Thursday), 2011, there are in total 11,310 people from 147 countries and regions have registered. Among them, 7,587 are athletes and 3,723 are accompanying officials. They will come to Shenzhen and witness the very first time of the city to ever host such an international comprehensive sports event.
Sports Programs: Shenzhen Universiade will have 24 sports and 306 events, exceeding the scale of Universiade held in the past.
Venues: Shenzhen Universiade plans to use 63 sports venues (10 are temporarily built and 3 are used as spare ones). Among the 22 newly-built venues, more than half of them locate outside the former special economic zone. Venue construction of Shenzhen Universiade will speed up the integrated and balanced development of Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, and improve the public utilities in areas outside the former special economic zone. 26 out of the 63 venues are renovated on the basis of existing ones in universities and middle schools, or newly-built ones in educational institutions. Most of the games venues are renovated. Located in the west of Longgang District, the main venue is named Shenzhen Universiade Center, which includes stadium, gymnasium and natatorium.
Opening Ceremony: The Opening Ceremony will be held at Shenzhen Bay Sports Center that has a nickname according to its image – Spring Cocoon.
Universiade Village: Shenzhen Universiade Village covers a land area of 492,000 m2 with 478,000 m2 of construction area. It is located Longgang District and will be used as part of the new campus of Shenzhen Institute of Information Technology after the games. During the Universiade, the village will provide accommodation, catering, entertainment and transportation services to the athletes and accompanying officials.
Emblem: The Name of Shenzhen Universiade emblem is "Happy U".
Mascot: The name of Shenzhen Universiade mascot is "UU". It breaks free from the traditional mascot stereotypes of past major sports events, for the mascot is a symbolized smiling face instead of a figure, an animal or a plant.
Medals: The medals of Shenzhen Universiade are named after the "Ocean Heart", inspired by the construction structure and crystal material of the stadium in the Universiade Center.
Torch: Consisting of 60 colorful oval slices, the elliptic cylinder-shaped torch of Shenzhen Universiade can spin out all sorts of looks. This design transcends previous torch design concepts, allowing each torch bearer to adjust the torch's shape according to his/her likes and imagination.
Core Concept: The core concept of Shenzhen Universiade is "Start Here—Make a Difference".
(The official website of Shenzhen Universiade: http://www.sz2011.org/)
2. Brief Introduction of the host city: Shenzhen
Shenzhen is located on the south coast of China, separated with the international metropolis – Hong Kong by the Shenzhen River. With a land area of 1,953 km2, the city's permanent population reached 10.3579 million by the end of 2010. Among them, 2.5103 million are registered population.
Shenzhen is the youngest city in history to ever host a Universiade with the citizen's average age less than 30. Being the city of youth, Shenzhen boasts a unique geo and cultural environment, embracing talents from both home and aboard to pursue their successes with its openness, tolerance and innovation. In 2010, the Chinese edition of Forbes ranked Shenzhen as the most innovative city on the Chinese mainland.
Shenzhen has a convenient transportation system. With a complete lineup of sea, land, and air ports, this coastal city boasts the largest numbers of ports, entry and exit volume of passenger and vehicle in China. Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport has 118 domestic air routes and 37 international ones (including those to Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan).The railway system links the city to all directions and the two major railways in China, Beijing-Guangzhou Railway and Beijing-Kowloon Railway, converge in Shenzhen.
With a developed volunteering culture, the whole city abounds in love and caring. It is referred to as "The Most Popular City for Migrant Workers". Its annual activity, Action of Care, has been dedicated to protecting and caring for the vulnerable groups.
With all the features and charms of a modern coastal city, Shenzhen has always been a celebrated tourist attraction in the southern part of China, enjoying the honor of "Excellent Tourist City" given by the Chinese government. The city was also listed by The New York Times as one of the must-see tourist attractions of 2010.
Moreover, Shenzhen is an eco-garden city. Almost 50% of the city's land area is within the eco-protection demarcation line. Constructions are prohibited within the controlled area. Meanwhile, all plants in the area are under absolute protection. (The official website of Shenzhen Municipal Government: http://www.sz.gov.cn/)
3. Recommendation of the Key Activities
• Virtual Torch Relay (May 10 to August 11)
Shenzhen Universiade originates the Virtual Torch Relay that reduces the budget by 75% but expands the scale by more than a hundred times.
•Torch Relay in the City (August 7 and August 11)
The torch relay in the city is scheduled to be started on August 7 and 11. On August 7, the torch relay will be carried out in the downtown, allowing more citizens to participate in and representing its local characteristics. On August 11, the torch relay will continue around Universiade Village in Longgang District with the participation of delegates from the competing countries, representing the international profile of the torch relay.
• Ticket Sales (start from July)
The tickets to the Universiade events will start selling to the public in July. The first innovation of the sales is the specially designed student ticket of RMB 10. The second innovation is that some of the tickets are pre-reserved for the ticket offices at the sports venues. The Universiade takes advantage of all sorts of channels for ticket selling. Firstly, ticket agencies are assigned to provide a service network. Secondly, post offices and other facilities are used for ticket sales. Thirdly, on-site ticket halls will also be set up at each venue to allow citizens to buy tickets on the day of an event.
• The Opening Ceremony (August 11 to August12)
On August 11, a Press Conference will be held for the Opening Ceremony of Shenzhen Universiade, where the arrangements for the ceremony will be announced. On the evening of August 12 right after the opening ceremony, another Press Conference will be held where the creative team and directors will interpret how the Opening Ceremony is making a difference.
• Activities at the Universiade Village (open on August 6)
The Chinese delegation will enter the Universiade Village on August 1. The Opening Ceremony of the Universiade Village will be held on August 6.
•World University Presidents Forum (August 13)
During the Universiade, Shenzhen will be the first mover to hold World University Presidents Forum in the history of the Universiade. Up to now, 53 university presidents from 49 countries and regions have confirmed the attendance.
• Medals
Shenzhen Universiade will produce 306 gold medals. August 18 will be the day to witness the largest production of gold medals: 45. The first gold medal will be produced by open water events at Seven Star Bay in Longgang District in the morning of August 13. Shenzhen Universiade will have games for 24 sports and 306 events.
• World Youth Festival (August 10 to August 12)
Centering on the traditional Chinese culture, urban culture and historical culture, the festival will launch theme cultural exchanges of three categories, namely, Universiade of Youth, Charming Shenzhen and Blending of Cultures. The festival will invite youth representatives from various countries and regions to attend the Opening Ceremony of the Universiade. Consuls General of various countries in Guangzhou will be invited to have dialogues with young people. There will also be the International University Students Beach Festival for youth from Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Macao and all over the world.
4. Media operation and journalist service
Shenzhen Universiade Media Operation will provide service to facilitate accredited media staff and coverage activities.
• Main Press Center (MPC): As one of the important non-competition venues during the Universiade, MPC is the headquarters for written and photographic press. It can accommodate 1,000 media staff at the same time, providing 24-hour services from three days before the opening ceremony until after the closing ceremony.
MPC has main press conference halls and workrooms for journalists and photographers, providing Internet access, copying and printing services, televisions and telephones, and online results services. MPC also has catering areas, information desks, and lockers, and provides maintenance for photographic equipments, as well as postal and banking services.
• Venue Media Centers (VMCs): VMCs provide accredited journalists and photographers (including TV news reporters) with facilities and services needed to cover the games at all venues (including the Universiade Village).
• Accommodation and Transportation: During the Universiade, shuttle buses are prepared for the media staff from MPC to all venues and designated hotels. MPC has a transportation desk to provide transportation consultancy; a dining hall exclusive for media reporters, which opens from 7:00 am to 2:00 am of the next day; and a service desk to solve problems relating to accommodation.
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