2nd World University Shooting Championship Opens

2nd World University Shooting Championship Opens

By Li Han

Staff Writer of the Tsinghua News Center

Many elated young shooting athletes from over twenty countries gathered together on the morning of October 8 in front of the Tsinghua Auditorium for the opening of the 2nd World University Shooting Championship (WUSC).

The WUSC is organized by the International University Sport Federation (FISU) and hosted by the Federation of University Sports of China (FUSC) and Tsinghua University. The competition takes place from October 8 to 11, with more than 400 athletes and coaches participating from over 180 universities in 29 countries and regions.

The venue for the WUSC is the Olympic Shooting Center used for the 2008 Olympics. The 2nd World University Shooting Championship includes competitions in pistol, rifle and skeet events, 16 events in all for men and women.

China s Vice Ministers of Education Mr. Zhang Xinsheng and Ms. Chen Xiaoya and China s Vice Minister of General Administration of Sport Mr. Feng Jianzhong are Honorary Presidents of the WUSC Organizing Committee . Tsinghua University President Gu Binglin is President of the WUSC Organizing Committee.

Tsinghua Vice President Chen Xu, Secretary General of the China University Sports Federation Mr. Yang Liguo, Director of the Shooting and Archery Administrative Center Mr. Gao Zhidan and Vice Director of the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau Mr. Yu Hongyuan are acting as Executive Presidents of the WUSC Organizing Committee.

Tsinghua students Zhao Yinghui, Cao Yifei, Liu Tianyou, Liao Sha, Liu Weiwei, and Luo Yulin are competing for China in the Shooting Championship. More than 300 Tsinghua student volunteers are also participating in the event.

Tsinghua University President Gu Binglin addressed the contestants, coaches, and guests at the opening ceremony. He extended a warm welcome to all on behalf of the Organizing Committee of the Championship and Tsinghua s faculty and students. I sincerely hope the students here will take this opportunity to enhance communication, establish friendships, and sow the seeds of world peace and cooperation. I also encourage our guests to take this opportunity to get to know Tsinghua University and China better, President Gu said.

The Secretary General of the China University Sports Federation Mr. Yang Liguo also spoke at the ceremony: Tsinghua University has the mission of holding the competition successfully. The University will provide a high quality platform for the contestants and a learning and communication opportunity for people from all over the world, Mr. Yang said.

Hanyang University President Dr. Chong Yang Kim, Assessor of the FISU Executive Committee, encouraged everyone to take advantage of the opportunities which this event offered: I am sure you will gain valuable athletic experience by learning from your winning and losing performances. More importantly, you will also develop friendships off the field, said Dr. Chong Yang Kim.

The Tsinghua Shooting Team was rebuilt in 1999. It is one of the elite teams in the Tsinghua Student Sport Team and a component of the National Shooting Team. It has cultivated an exceptional group of athletes, notably Liu Tianyou and Cao Yifei. Tsinghua also launched optional shooting courses for undergraduate students in 2002.

(Photo by Guo Haijun)