Speeches
After all the delegations had entered the stadium Liu Qi, Mayor of Beijing and Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the 21st Universiade expressed his warmest welcome to the members of the FISU Executive Committee, to the participants of the different countries, to the members of the International Olympic Committee and to all the guests present. He praised the Universiade for its role in promoting sports at the university level, and for furthering mutual understanding between young people from around the world. ‘The 21st Universiade not only marks the very first international sports meet in the new century, but also the first international sports celebration since Beijing’s successful bid for hosting the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in 2008′, the Mayor said. He pledged to make the games the best ever staged in the FISU history.
After the Mayor FISU President George E. Killian delivered his opening speech. ‘It is with great honor and pleasure that I take this opportunity to welcome you and the more than 6,000 athletes, coaches, and administrators from the 165 countries that have gathered here tonight in this wonderful city of Beijing, China for the opening of the largest Summer Universiade in the History of FISU. I first came to Beijing some four years ago at the request of our late President, Dr. Primo Nebiolo, to explore the possibility with the local governmental authorities of hosting a Summer Universiade. Following our initial visit, it wasn’t long after that that the city of Beijing notified us of its desire to host the 2001 Universiade. The rest is history. Beginning tomorrow the world will be able to see the fruits of their labor. New venues have been constructed, old venues have been refurbished, and an Athletes’ Village, without a doubt one of the finest ever constructed for a worldwide multi-sporting event. I would like to thank the Mayor of Beijing, Mr. Liu Qi, and his entire Organizing Committee for the efforts that they have made during these past years. It has been a joy to have had the pleasure of working with them during these past years. It has been a joy to have had the pleasure of working with them as they prepared for tonight’s opening of Universiade 2001. In addition, I would like to thank the citizens of China and the City of Beijing for believing in the value of University Sport. My best to each and everyone who has traveled from far and near to compete here in Summer Universiade 2001. I wish you all much success during the next ten days. Now I have the pleasure and honor to invite Mr. Jiang Zemin to officially declare open the 2001 Summer Universiade in Beijing.’
Source： FISU Editor： 王荣