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Canada Bids for 2007 Summer University Games |
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OTTAWA - Today in Brussels, Belgium, a Canadian delegation will present before the International University Sports Federation (FISU) a bid to stage the 2007 Summer Universiade in Saskatoon, SK. The Summer Universiade, also known as the Summer World University Games, were initiated in 1959 and are the world's second-largest multi-sport competition after the Olympics. The University of Saskatchewan proposes to host the Games, which last year in Beijing attracted 4,484 athletes and 2,273 team officials from 133 countries. Universiade has been held twice in North America, including Edmonton, Alberta, in 1983 and Buffalo, NY, in 1993. The Canadian bid includes a $36 million operating budget for the 2007 Universiade, along with capital projects such as an Athletes’ Village intended to provide Saskatoon with a national demonstration project in affordable housing. The 2007 Games coincide with centennial celebrations of the University of Saskatchewan, Province of Saskatchewan and City of Saskatoon. “Canada will provide a safe, secure and accessible environment for the 2007 Summer Universiade, and there’s no question Saskatoon shines in staging successful Games and international events,” Saskatoon Mayor James Maddin said. Maddin will travel to Brussels with a delegation including U of S Chancellor Thomas Molloy, Bid Committee Chair Peter Zakreski and Margaret McGregor, CEO of Canadian Interuniversity Sport, to present the Canadian Bid. “There’s a tremendous Canadian Advantage in staging the 2007 Universiade in Saskatoon that draws on multicultural heritage, aboriginal involvement and mobilizing Saskatchewan’s legendary volunteers,” said Zakreski. “By providing a forum where people of the world come together, we’ll also be doing our part to build global understanding and never has global understanding been needed more than it is needed right now.” The Canadian Bid for the 2007 Summer Universiade is supported by the Government of Canada, Government of Saskatchewan, City of Saskatoon, Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, University of Saskatchewan and Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS). “We look forward to bringing the Universiade back to Canada and North America. University Sport has played a significant role in the Canadian Sport System, and this will give us the opportunity to enhance high performance opportunities for our student athletes” stated Colin Timm, CIS International Programs Services. For further information contact: Peter
Zakreski, Chair Colin
Timm |
