SHENZHEN will take possession of the Universiade flag at the closing ceremony of the 25th Universiade in Belgrade this July, a press conference was told yesterday.
On behalf of the city, Wang Rong, acting mayor of Shenzhen, will receive the Universiade flag from George E. Killian, president of the International University Sports Federation (FISU), on July 12, said Liang Daoxing, chairman of the Executive Office of the Organizing Committee of the 26th Summer Universiade.
“From the moment Shenzhen receives the flag, the Universiade enters ‘Shenzhen time,’” said Liang.
A 140-member delegation composed of performers, sponsors and government officials will go to Belgrade for the 25th Universiade and the flag handover ceremony.
In another development, Wang will head the executive board for the Shenzhen 26th Summer Universiade, replacing former Mayor Xu Zongheng, according to Liang.
“According to custom, the president of the executive board should be the mayor of the host city,” Liang said. “So Mayor Wang Rong will naturally become the president.”
Xu was removed from the mayoral position earlier this month for an alleged serious breach of discipline. He had planned to go to Belgrade for the flag handover. Some have speculated that he was removed from office before the trip over concern that he wouldn’t return from Belgrade. Xu’s name has since been removed from the official Web site of the Shenzhen Universiade.
Liang said the change would not affect preparation for the Universiade.
“The outline for the preparation has already been set,” Liang said. “The fact that Mayor Wang Rong will lead a delegation to the handover ceremony shows that the city government is highly supportive of the games. Shenzhen is still committed to its promise of holding the most successful and most influential Universiade.”
The Shenzhen delegation will visit the major sports venues of the 25th Universiade and promote Shenzhen through parties and exhibitions, said Liang.
A “Shenzhen Night” party will be held July 11, when the Shenzhen delegation introduces Shenzhen’s preparation for the 26th Universiade. Wang will invite people from all over the world to the games. The Shenzhen delegation will also give a 20-minute performance after receiving the flag, said Liang.
Preparation for the games has been going on smoothly, said Liang. Work on all the 63 sports venues planned for the Universiade had started, and the sports center in University Town is expected to be completed by the end of this year, he said.
Helen Deng