The Winteruniversiade Innsbruck/Seefeld 2005 opens at Innsbrucks Tivoli Neu-Stadion

- Impressive stage show featured

INNSBRUCK/SEEFELD, Austria 13. 1. 2005 (PROTEXT/ots) -The Winteruniversiade Innsbruck/Seefeld 2005 has opened. Shortlyafter 6 p.m., Austrian president Heinz Fischer spoke the magicwords: I declare the games open. Whereupon the athletes, publicofficials, numerous VIPs and the huge numbers of spectators thatturned out for the event at Innsbrucks Tivoli Neu soccerstadium, gave a rousing cheer.

The official opening event also featured a show magnificentlystaged by the Austrian director Hans Kudlich that combinedtraditional elements such as the March of Nations with modernand innovative elements. Impressive as well was the stage designby Innsbruck architect professor Kjetil Thorsen, who imbuedTivoli Neu-Stadion with the ambience of a glittering winterwonderland.

President Fischer was clearly pleased to be in attendance: Idlike to congratulate the Winteruniversiade organizers for thisinnovative and totally successful opening event. I will not soonforget the enthusiasm of these young people from around theworld.

The sports community was represented by prominent guests suchas Austrias Olympics committee chairman Leo Wallner and FISpresident Gian Franco Kasper.

Numerous Austrian luminaries were in attendance in additionto President Fischer, including Austrias minister of collegeathletics Elisabeth Gehrer, Austrias minister of labor andeconomic affairs Martin Bartenstein, as well as Herbert Haupt,Gunther Platter, Liese Prokop, Josef Proll and Maria Rauch-Kallat. European education and athletics commissioners FranzFischler and Jan Figel were in attendance, as was New York Citysdeputy mayor for economic development and rebuilding Daniel L.Doctoroff.

The head of the Tirolian provincial government Herwig vanStaa enjoyed the event as well. I have witnessed the spirit oftodays Tirolian youth at this opening event. she said. It isimportant for us to be a guiding light not only in sports butalso in the field of education. FISU president George E. Killianalso expressed his admiration for the event: During my longcareer in sports administration Ive been to many openingceremonies. Tonight was absolutely special.

Winteruniversiade organizing committee chairman MichaelBielowski was particularly pleased at this positive feedbackfrom sports opinion leaders: We couldnt have hoped for a morewonderful prelude to the pleasures that await us over the nextten days. Thus did the winter college athletic games getunderway.

Photo credits:

http://www.universiade-innsbruck.org/picture-upload/pages/ceremoniesopening_ceremony.html

For further information:

Bernd Obermayr Press officer ISOC 2005 Organizing committeefor the Winteruniversiade Innsbruck/Seefeld 2005

phone: +43 (0) 512 5360 2005, fax:

+43 (0) 512 53602006, cellphone:

+43 (0) 664 8455 216,bernd.obermayr@isoc2005.at

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