05.02.2011-ERZURUM 2011 MEDIA- Killian called for the Slovenia Maribor team which will host the 2013 Winter Games, and said, “You should be as good as at least Erzurum has been.” With two days left for the closing of the 25th WU which began on 27th of January, President of FISU Board of Management George E. Killian, Member of FISU Board of Management and President of Turkish University Sports Federation Prof. Dr. Kemal Tamer, President of FISU Technical Committee Roger Roth, Member of FISU Supervisory Committee and International Press Commiitee and 2011 General Coordinator Bekir Korkmaz held a press conference. At the press conference held in Palan Hotel, President of FISU Board of Management stated that 25th WU reached to the highest number of participants in the history of Winter Games with a total of 2 thousand 483, one thousand 593 of which are sportspeople from 52 countries and 844 of which are officals. Killian also said that the high number of participants was a result of Erzurum being the host and that the organization was literally perfect thanks to the proper hosting.
Turkey will begin to win medals in the next 10 years
Killian pointed out that he and Kemal Tamer watched the Figure Skating competition in which Turkey won the silver medal and added, “Turkey could not win many medals however from this day forth in the next 10 to 12 years, Turkey will begin to win medals. Winter sports are competitive in nature. If you take a look at the countries competed in Ski Jumping, all of the professional skiers want to be a part of it. I, sincerely, believe that the Athletes’ Village which kept together all of the sportspeople is one of the best villages. It was just great. FISU Supervisory Committee spent most of its time in the village. The foods, sportspeople and the employees were amazing. How can we find the same level of service in the future? I think it is going to be a hard quest. As I stated before, there are two elements which will have a positive effect on the games. These are where you sleep and where you eat. If these two elements are set accordingly then you will be on the right track. What you need for both of them to be accordingly is a good organization and a great leader. Or else what you are left with is only the success you get from the games. My opinion is that we were able to fulfill these in Erzurum. Today, when I woke up I said to myself ‘had I been young and I was a skier or a snowboarder and I was looking for a place to enjoy life, I would definitely go to Erzurum.”
Erzurum can host 2017, 2019 and 2021 Winter Games
Killian stated that there are two cities who are candidates for becoming the capital of winter sports and continued, “we always look to the future. I know where we are going to be in 2013. I would like to see two games of 2017, 2019 and 2021 in Erzurum. Kemal Tamer agrees with me. I mean it when I say we will come to Erzurum again. You did a great job and you have the time to fulfill the same task. If you make a request towards hosting another winter games we will most certainly come back. Poland and Spain hosted the winter games two times each. There is not such a thing that Erzurum cannot host the games one more time.” Killian who said that he had doubts when he first step into Erzurum, stated, “I thought to myself, ‘Will you able to fulfil all your promises?’ and you did. The Government, Student Federation, Sports Federation and the local commitee plays an important role in this. All of these came together and acted as one. You were able to transfer a small city to an international center. I would like to extend my thanks to the police officers. The Chief of Police helped us to have a great time within this organization. More people means trouble. Because in Harbin, China people who attend to the games as spectators can be more in number. One of my favourites of these international organizations was the Basketball World Championship. I was in İstanbul and in one of the days when there was not a game scheduled, my wife and my daughter wanted to go out for shopping and I wanted to stay in and relax. I sat in my room which had a view of the Bosphorus and watched the boats passing by. In Erzurum, I sit in my room and look at the snow covered mountains and think to myself what a wonderful place to spend your holiday. I believe it is time to thank each one of you. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the citizens of Turkey. You have been so kind to us and you made this organization possible. Our students will speak of Erzurum to people who have never heard of it. I hope the press is pleased also because the efforts of the press is really important. You have transfered every news with honesty and you were very precise. You did not try to create a false image of anything. You have been good and kind to us.”
COMBAT WITH THE NATURE
Member of FISU Board of Management and the President of Turkish University Sports Federation Prof. Dr. Kemal Tamer stated that they feel honoured to contribute Erzurum to be the host country of 25th WU and added “ Firstly, I would like to extend my thanks to everyone who contributed to this organization. Winter sports are different than summer sports. We. not only hold organization, but also struggle with the nature. Natural conditions make our job more difficult. I witnessed the efforts in Erzurum about the games. People started to work before the sunrise and they did not stop until the sunset. It looks like easy, but when you join them to work, you understand its difficulty. I would like to extend my appreciations to FISU President George E. Killian and the member of FISU Board of Management for their designation of Erzurum as the host city. Before the start of the games, they had some worries about the organization and they were right to fear because neither Erzurum nor Turkey was ready to be a host for such an important organization. The venues are started from the scratch. Of course, if you start something from scratch it costs a lot of money and effort. Yet, we succeeded it. The games will end tomorrow. Everybody is tired but we will enjoy this success later. We are happy that the games will end smoothly.” Deputy of FISU Supervisor Commitee and member of International Press Commity Leonz Eder stated “As Deputy of FISU Supervisor Commitee, we worked hand in hand with the organization committee. We had many meetings and we were in communication with each other. We discussed the problem in our meetings. We solved transportation, accomodation, security problems. Now, we visit the future’s host countries. Now Erzurum is a good sources of information center from them thus they want to have a rough idea about the procedure.
President of FISU Technical Commitee Roger Roth highlighted “ I was worried about the success of Erzurum. Yet, then everything ran smoothly. I tried to be press observor and I realised that they are amazing photographs. The games relived both us and Erzurum.”
2011 General Coordinator Bekir Korkmaz who stated that Turkey did a good job in winter games stressted that closing ceremony of the 25th WU will be as outstanding as the opening ceremony. Korkmaz also underlined that the parades of the sportsmen will be at the same time and added, “after the parade, the dance team will take the stage and famous singer Kıraç will perform in the closing ceremony.”
Killian who referred the public attention as the most important part of the organization added: “The rinks were full of people. Some of the spectators even could not find an empty seat. I was surprised that mothers came to curling and ice hockey competitions with their children. I could not believe my eyes. I was sitting in front of them and the child said ‘Push me’ to her/his mother. I think he/she did not know the rules of ice hockey but it was clear that he/she liked ice hockey. Normally we do not register the number of participants but we will start to record in order to understand which branch of sports attract how many spectators. I had 500 small brooches when I came to Erzurum and I presented them to children as a souvenir. A 9 years old child with whom I talked stated that he will be a skier and I said to himr ‘my colleagues will watch your performance when you will be a student in the university. When you meet with them you will say that you are from Erzuurm.’“ Killian who addressed the Team of Maribor where 27th WU will be held in 2013 added “ Of course, your organization will be successful, too. Yet you should use Erzurum as a starting point. “
Nice time at the reception
After the meeting that was held by FISU, the reception in which President of 2011 ERZURUM General Coordinatorship Commitee, directors and the officials attended was organized. President of FISU Advisory Commitee, Kairis Ulp stated that the organizations runs smoothly. Ulp,, who extended her thanks to everyone who contributed to the organization added “ No doubt, Bekir Korkmaz is the one who lead the organization. I would like extend my appreciations to Bekir Kormaz and his team on behalf of FISU.”
