World University Games Concludes in Beijing

World University Games Concludes in Beijing (2)

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The 21st World University Games, hailed by International University Sports Federation £¨FISU£© president George E. Killian as "the best ever" in history, concluded Saturday in Beijing, the host city for the 2008 Olympic Games.

The games, which opened on August 22 with a dazzling opening ceremony, rang down the curtain after setting several records.

Killian announced the closing of the games and the FISU flag was passed to next host city Daegu, South Korea.

Before and during the 11-day competitions, a series of records were produced. Over 6,000 athletes and officials attended the 12- sport competitions of athletics, basketball, fencing, football, gymnastics, swimming, diving, waterpolo, tennis, volleyball, table tennis and judo, the ticket sales reached more than 2.5 million U. S. dollars and over 3,000 journalists covered the games.


World University Games Concludes in Beijing

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FISU president Killian lauded the 21st Universiade as the best version in history. "When you ask me what we are going to improve in Daegu, I don't know," said the president, "Because I think the Chinese have set such a high standard that is going to be difficult for Daegu or anybody else to follow."

FISU vice president Ed Zemrau echoed Killian's view: "The organization by the Chinese here was super."

"I am sure the organizing committee here, with the experience that had at the Universiade, will know how to do things much better when the Olympics come."

International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge expressed his full confidence in Beijing, saying the IOC expected the Chinese capital to deliver a "best possible" Olympic Games in 2008.

China sent the largest contingent of 392 members including 52 Olympians to the games and topped the medal standings with a total of 54 golds, only second to the former Soviet Union's 68 in the 1973 Moscow games among the all-time overall winners.

The United States had to settle for second overall with 21 golds after dominating the biennial games for a decade.

Russia and Japan were joint third in the gold tally with 14 golds.

Although the Universiade didn't attract many world-class players, big names still could be found in track and filed, fencing and other sports. Cuba had five world champions in its 32- member delegation, including world record holder Osleidys Menendez in women's javelin.

Ukraine's Tamara Yerofeyeva, sixth in the Sydney Olympics, was the most crowned in this games, taking four golds in rhythmic gymnastics.