2021 Chengdu Summer Universiade still on track: FISU

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Beijing, May 3 (IANS) Preparations for the 2021 Summer University Games in Chengdu are going smoothly and the tournament remains on schedule despite the global COVID-19 pandemic, according to senior officials from the International University Sports Federation (FISU).

"We recently had a very productive virtual meeting with the mayor and vice-mayor of Chengdu, where we discussed all aspects of preparation. The Chengdu organizing committee presented an excellent video that detailed the progress of construction and renovation of all major venues including the athletes' village," FISU secretary general Eric Saintrond told Xinhua news agency.

"Everything is on track and I must say that they returned to work faster than we had expected. With the personal attention of the mayor, preparations will continue well."

After the postponement of the Tokyo Olympic Games to 2021, the Chengdu Summer University Games are now scheduled to open just 10 days after the closing ceremony of the Olympics, and the FISU expects some student-athletes to compete in Chengdu immediately following Tokyo.

"2021 promises to be a great summer of international multisport competition of the very highest level. Many Olympians are also World University Games participants, and they now have the opportunity to prepare for two major multisport competitions in Asia in the same timeframe," said FISU President Oleg Matytsin.

"The change of dates of the Olympic Games will in fact allow some student-athletes who are already in Asia to move to Chengdu after Tokyo," said Saintrond. "I'm sure many participants of the World University Games will look forward to testing themselves against recent Olympians."

The FISU is to launch a Healthy Campus Label project on May 12, in response to the challenge the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to university sports.

--IANS

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