Winter Universiade Opens in Zakopane

Winter Universiade Opens in Zakopane

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Under a bright round moon, five performers who held lightings in their hands skiied down the Large Skiing Hill piste in the shape of a trapezia as the 20th Winter Universiade raised its curtain in Zakopane, Southern Poland on Wednesday.

Alicja Gzeskowiak, Prolocutor of the Polish Senate, declared open of the games, which will last 11 days till February 17.

International University Sports Federation (FISU) president George E. Killian and Zakopane mayor Adam Bachleda-Curus attended the opening ceremony.

More than 1,000 students from 40 countries and regions, aged between 17 and 28, will compete in nine winter sports, namely Alpine skiing, cross country, ski jumping, Nordic combined, figure skating, short-track speed skating, ice hockey, biathlon and snowboard.

China has sent 21 skiers and skaters for the games, taking part in the events of short-track speed skating, figure skating and biathlon.

The Winter Universiade, which was inaugurated in 1960, is being held in Zakopane for the second time after its first Polish edition here eight years ago.