(Adapted from the December 14 issue of the Shenzhen Daily)

On behalf of the evaluation* team from the International University Sports Federation (FISU), George E. Killian offered best wishes for Shenzhen in its bid for the 26th Universiade* last Wednesday.

“I wish you well in your pursuit* of the 26th Universiade …and I hope we can meet again in this beautiful city,” the FISU president said at the end of their evaluation tour.

Killian spoke of Shenzhen as a beautiful, progressive and young city of 26 years. “We thoroughly* enjoyed the visit. I can’t think of anything negative* about Shenzhen after visiting the city. We have been overwhelmed* by the sincerity* and enthusiasm* of the city and its people,” he said, adding he also saw the differences between Shenzhen and other candidate cities.

The chairman of the judges of the five 26th Universiade candidate cities also praised the existing sports facilities and those that are to be built for the 2011 Universiade.

Killian said he believed the youth in the city, elementary and high school students as well as university students could really gain from the experience of bidding for the Universiade.

Mayor Xu Zongheng expressed the city’s resolve in bidding for the 26th Universiade. “We have fully expressed our longing to host the Universiade in 2011, and fully displayed our strengths and confidence in that.”

Xu will leave for Turin, Italy, next month to make the final statement on Shenzhen’s bid for the 26th Universiade.

“We are prepared, and we are determined,” he said.

FISU’s six-member evaluation team inspected Shenzhen’s sports venues and organizations, its security, traffic, customs, media, cultural activities, education and volunteers’ services during their packed three-day visit. They also held talks with officials from the Ministry of Education, Federation of University Sports of China, Guangdong provincical and Shenzhen municipal governments.