University students of Heilongjiang province express their high hopes for the 24th Winter Universiade during a torch relay.

The alpine skiers, figure skaters and 4,000 other university athletes and coaches from 50-plus countries will help create history in Heilongjiang province, said Li Zhanshu, governor of the province and president of the Organizing Committee of the 24th Winter Universiade Harbin 2009.

As the first to be held in China, the 21-day ice and snow competitions will carry profound and historic significance for Heilongjiang.

"It's a dream come through for Harbin people to host the Winter Universiade and a glory for the 38 million people in Heilongjiang province," Li said.

The Harbin Winter Universiade will put on 12 sporting events in 82 disciplines, the most ever. "It shall certainly act as a positive, driving role to promote the development of international ice-snow sports," said the governor.

"Youth, Future, Ice and Snow" is the theme this year. Youth represents vigor and vitality and ice and snow are valuable natural resources.

"When youths from around the world gather to compete at the pure and noble arena with understanding, the universiade will be an unforgettable grand meeting," Li said.

The governor said Heilongjiang will provide the Harbin Winter Universiade with quality venues, facilities and services.

All the venues were built and renovated according to the requirements of the International University Sports Federation, or FISU, and the International Individual Sports Organization.

The Organizing Committee for the 24th Winter Universiade Harbin 2009 has worked with various other departments in the province to improve the supplementary facilities.

A special railway and a highway leading to the venues are open to traffic.

In addition, centralized heat was upgraded and the command center of the skiing contest, the international TV broadcasting center, the athletic villages and hotels were closely examined. Volunteers are ready to greet and welcome participants.

"We're certainly able to turn the 24th Winter Universiade into a magnificent gathering with unique charm and strong Chinese flavor," Li said.

Yabuli resort in autumn

(China Daily 02/16/2009 page6)