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UNIVERSIADE individual sports
A: It is that time again to hear all about the updates on the International Multi- sporting event that is happening right here in Gwangju, the 2015 Gwangju Summer Universiade. Today, we have Saelom with us to tell us about the preparations being made for the sports that are included in 2015 Gwangju Summer Universiade.
A: So we have heard so much that 2015 Universiade is an international multi sporting event but we didn’t really get a chance to hear about what kind of sports are involved in this sports festival.
S: Yes, I agree. So here I am to give you an overview of the sports happening in 2015 Universiade! For today, I will specifically talk about the individual sports involved in 2015 Universiade.
A: Sounds great. I’m sure many will be interested in hearing about the sports happening during 2015 Universiade. Before you get started could you first tell us how many countries are expected to attend during Universiade and possible number of participants?
S: We estimate that there will be about 170 countries participating in 2015 Universiade and we are expecting to have approximately 20,000 participants (including officials).
A: Right. So please tell us what kind of sports are involved in 2015 Gwangju Universiade.
S: The official program of 2015 Gwangju Summer Universiade includes total of 21 sports which consist of 13 compulsory sports and 8 optional sports. Out of these 21 sports, 15 of them are individual sports which include Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Diving, Fencing, Golf, Gymnastics (Artistic, Rhythmic), Judo, Rowing, Shooting Sport, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, and Tennis. From these 15 sports I mentioned, 5 of them will take place in newly constructed Universiade competition venues which are Archery, Swimming & Diving, Tennis, and Artistic & Rhythmic Gymnastics. Archery will be held at Gwangju International Archery Range, Swimming & Diving will be at Nambu University International Aquatic Center, Tennis will be held at Jinwol International Tennis Court, and last but not least we have Artistic & Rhythmic Gymnastics which will be at Gwangju Women’s University Universiade Gymnasium. As you can tell from the names of these new venues, most of them include the word ‘International’. This tells us that Universiade is not only advancing Gwangju into a sport city but also increasing the brand value of Gwangju as a global city.
A: It certainly is. So you have mentioned 15 individual sports involved in Universiade and out of these sports which do you think will have the most participants?
S: I would say that it will be the Athletics because it consists of 50 different events-25 men’s and 25 women’s events. Athletics events include track, jump, throw, road race, and combined events. We estimate that approximately 1,329 athletes will attend Athletics competition.
Swimming is also expected to have many participants because it consists of 42 different events including Freestyle, Breaststroke, Backstroke, Butterfly, Medley, Relay, and 10km Open Water. We are expecting to have 680 athletes attending Swimming competition.
A: You know, some of these swimming events you’ve just mentioned such as freestyle, breaststroke and so on, are events that we came across before but 10km Open Water is very unfamiliar. Could you tell us a little bit more about this event?
S: Sure. I’m guessing that it might be the first time for some of you hearing about Open Water Swimming and as a matter of fact open water event is being held in Korea as an international event for the first time. So let me briefly tell you what this event is and how it is going to take place during 2015 Universiade.
10km Open Water is a competition that takes place in rivers, lakes, or oceans. In previous Universiades, such as 2011 Shenzhen and 2013 Kazan, Open Water event was held in ocean and lake. In 2015 Gwangju Universiade, Open Water event will take place in Jangseong Lake on July 11th for both men and women in the 10km course. Just to help your understanding and to give you a general idea of how the competition is held, open water competition should be done in Freestyle having the swimmers start from the platform all at once and swimmers will swim counter-clockwise in the 10km course. In the recent Universiade records for Open Water, we had 1st place swimmers completing 10km course in 1hr 56 mins for men and 2 hrs 5 mins for women. So it really is a long race for the swimmers and since the swimmers will be in the water for such a long time the water temperature and the water quality is extremely important. Accordingly, to help swimmers to compete in their best conditions, Organizing Committee is trying hard to provide good environment for swimmers to compete by checking the water temperature and quality on a regular basis.
A: Other than Athletics and Swimming, which of the sports do you think will be the most popular? Perhaps attract most spectators?
S: Well generally all the individual sports I mentioned are popular sports in Korea but if I have to choose it would be Archery, Artistic Gymnastics, and Rhythmic Gymnastics. There is a special reason why I chose these three sports. It’s because these are the individual sports where we will have our honorary ambassadors who are the Olympics sports stars. For Archery we are expecting that Ki Bo Bae will participate in the games. In Artistic Gymnastics we are expecting to have Yang Hak Seon, and for Rhythmic Gymnastics Son Yeon Jae participating in the games. These three sports will be broadcasted worldwide during 2015 Universiade and it will definitely attract worldwide attentions especially having these worldly recognized athletes attending in 2015 Universiade.
A: I’m sure many will be looking forward to these sports. Then, how many days do we have until the start of 2015 Universiade sports program and what preparations are being made in order to deliver a successful event in the remaining time?
S: Well I must say that time does fly really fast because we only have 221 days left until the start of 2015 Universiade games! To deliver a successful event next year, sports departments of the organizing committee is currently working closely together with the sports coordinators/experts recommended by Korean sports federations.
Also, one of the most important preparations that we are working on right now is adjusting and confirming the appropriate number of personnel who will be working during the event for the operation of the competitions. For example, operational support staff, volunteers and etc. Other than that we are also in process of completing the competition regulations and the technical handbooks for each sport which you will be able to find on Gwangju Universiade website soon.
A: Thank you for the information. Is there anything else you want to say before we let you go?
S: I hope this helped you in getting better insight into what kind of sports are involved in 2015 Universiade and finally I just want to mention that the Organizing Committee is currently working very hard to deliver a successful and a meaningful sport festival for everyone. This is the first time hosting an international mega-sport event in Gwangju which will bring circle of different people and culture together. In order to prepare a successful event and to meet all the expectations, Organizing Committee would need great support and help from all Gwangju citizens. So to conclude, I would kindly like to ask for your encouragement and support to upcoming 2015 Gwangju Universiade. Thank you very much for listening.
A: Thank you and we wish you all the best in preparing successful 2015 Gwangju Universiade!
- Saelom Lim for GFN news –
Andrey Vlasov has been on the position of the FISU Chairperson of Technical Committee for Football from 2013 Kazan Summer Universiade. He is also serving for the Russia Football Union as Head of Innovation policy, science and education department. Andrey started his coaching career at the age of nineteen in the Russia Olympic Sports School and became the Head coach of the School after completing six years academic degree course.
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