Cai Yingbo
SHENZHEN will launch the 1,000-day countdown of the Universiade starting Saturday at the Citizens’ Center to mark the sports event.
The 26th Summer Universiade will be officially held in Shenzhen from Aug. 12 to 23 in 2011, according to a decision made by the Executive Committee of the International University Sports Federation (FISU) in October.
The city will launch an action plan that involves different government departments to prepare for the Universiade in communication, construction, environmental protection and greening, security management and meteorological support.
“To beef up the preparation for the Universiade, the city will organize 152 activities that involve participation of residents over three years,” Zhao Guanghua, deputy director general of the Executive Office of the Organizing Committee for Shenzhen 26th Summer Universiade, said during a conference yesterday.
Twenty-nine university reporters from China University Media Union will be invited to cover the celebration of the 1,000-day countdown. They will also follow the progress of the construction of Universiade sports venues in Longgang District.
Moreover, Zhao said the mascot for the Universiade would be unveiled Nov. 22.
“The mascot has been highly praised by committee members from different countries in the FISU Executive Committee meeting in Belgrade in October, and they believed it fully showed the city’s characteristics,” said Zhao.
The Universiade organizing committee received 2,007 designs from home and abroad by May 20. Thirty designs were from the United Kingdom, France, Japan and Australia. More than 70 percent of participants were university students. The eldest contestant was 70 years old and the youngest only 9.
Hong Kong Royal Furniture Holding Ltd. signed an agreement at the news conference yesterday, becoming the fourth sponsor of the 26th Universiade, following China Merchants Bank, Kingway Brewery and China Southern Power Grid.