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FISU President Hails Beijing Universiade Unbeatable
Nobody can beat Beijing on the organization of a Universiade, said International University Sports Federation £¨FISU£© president George E. Killian on Friday, the day before the 21st University Games closes.
The FISU head admitted he did not know what else can be done to improve the Beijing Universiade. "We owe the Chinese a lot, right now I can say that," Killian told a press conference Friday morning, referring to the excellent organization of the first world multi-sports event ever held in China. "Maybe in the future, what the Chinese did would create a problem for us because nobody can beat them. So only time will tell." "I was absolutely certain that the Chinese people, the Organizing Committee could put on a very, very professional, well- organized Universiade. That they have done," said the American. "
Everything they have done has been positive."
Killian thought Beijing organizers' superb work would be a great challenge for Daegu, the host city for the 22nd University Games in 2003. "When you ask me what we are going to improve in Daegu, I don' know," he said. "I really don't know. "Because I think the Chinese have set such a high standard that is going to be difficult for Daegu or anybody else. "Are we going to in Daegu have a better opening ceremony than we did in Beijing£¿ I find that hard to believe."
The opening ceremony of the University Games, which involved 12, 000 performers, received mountains of praises from FISU officials as well as athletes and officials from various delegations.
Killian mentioned a letter he received this morning from International Olympic Committee £¨IOC£© vice president Kevan Gosper to support his opinion. "I can assure you he was amazed that the President of the People's Republic of China was sitting there during this sports spectacular," Killian said.
Chinese President Jiang Zemin declared open the University Games last Wednesday.
Killian even told Chinese reporters that he did not know how the Beijing Games will affect Deagou. "I hope it will have a more positive effect,"he said."Mr.
Park£¨Sang-Ha£©, secretary general of the Organizing Committee of Daegu, immediately after the opening ceremony made a statement to the press which said 'they will have a better Universiade than you have'. Now only time will tell whether or not they are going to outdo you."
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