Acting Shenzhen Mayor Wang Rong (L) and Belgrade Mayor Dragan Dilas after signing a memorandum of cooperation in Belgrade on Friday. Du Juan
ACTING Shenzhen Mayor Wang Rong received the Universiade flag from George E. Killian, president of the International University Sports Federation (FISU), at the closing ceremony of the 25th Universiade in Belgrade, Serbia, at 2 a.m. today Beijing Time, marking the moment Shenzhen becomes the next host city.
A 140-member delegation composed of athletes, sponsors and government officials from Shenzhen, which was awarded in 2007 the right to host the 2011 Universiade, witnessed the handover ceremony.
Wang was scheduled to deliver a speech and performers from the Shenzhen Art Troupe and Shenzhen Senior High School would perform in a “Shenzhen 20 Minutes’ presentation.
Traditional Chinese folk songs including “Jasmine Flower” and Guangdong music “Stepping High” would be performed, followed by a Serbian song “Niska Banja.”
A team of cyclists from Shenzhen who finished a 5,000-kilometer national tour to promote the 26th Universiade in August in 2011 would also be on the stage.
Killian said the World University Games in Belgrade had been a tremendous success but he expects an even better Universiade in Shenzhen in two years time.
“Shenzhen is going to do a better job than Serbia, because they ( the Shenzhen observers) have seen things here,” he said.
On Friday night, Wang signed a memorandum of cooperation in science, culture and education with Belgrade Mayor Dragan Dilas during a meeting.
Li Jing