AMID the sound of drums, more than 100 Shenzheners welcomed the arrival of the Universiade flag at the Citizens’ Center yesterday afternoon.
Party chief Liu Yupu and Acting Mayor Wang Rong waved the flag to the excitement of spectators, mostly university students.
Wang, who has just returned from the closing ceremony of the 25th Universiade in Belgrade, Serbia, vowed to speed up preparation for the 26th Summer Universiade, which will be held in Shenzhen in 2011.
“Shenzhen will do its best to hold a successful Universiade,” said Wang, adding that holding the Universiade was a good chance to improve the city’s image and speed up development.
Wang’s speech, followed by a 20-minute performance by students from Shenzhen Senior High School, drew loud applause from the spectators.
Among the spectators was Maria Rose from Russia, a human resources officer with the Executive Office of the Organizing Committee of the 26th Summer Universiade.
“I’m very excited. I’ve been in Shenzhen for two years and I love the city. I think the Universiade is important for Shenzhen,” said Rose, 23.
“It’s an honor to take part in an event like this,” said Huang Lianqing, a freshman at Shenzhen University, who was one of the 45 students from the university to welcome the flag.
Huang Yang, a postgraduate of Harbin Institute of Technology, said he felt the atmosphere of the Universiade yesterday.
Helen Deng, Gao Changxin