Universiade Belgrade 2009 June 30, 2009

The twenty fifth anniversary summer Universiade will be held in Belgrade between July 1st and July 12th of this year. This will be this year’s largest sports event organized in Serbia.
Some 9 thousand athletes - students from 140 countries will compete in 15 sports and 208 disciplines. Serbia will welcome athletes who will compete in athletics, judo, football, basketball, fencing, volleyball, swimming, rhythmic gymnastics, diving, artistic gymnastics, table tennis, archery, tens, taekwondo and water polo.

Sports event of this size requires ample preparations, including building and reconstruction of sport venues. In New Belgrade, a veritable small town has been built – the University Village – where athletes will be staying during the Universiade. Competitions will take place on more than 60 locations, each of which needed to fulfill FISU standards.

Apart from the importance of accommodation, the mission of the Universiade as an international institution is to spread values that are the core of academic sports. Universiade Belgrade 2009, in association with universities and university organization will leave a legacy personified in the belief that academism and sport are interconnected. Universiade Belgrade 2009 will be chance for making new contacts and for creating new friendships, not only among athletes.

More than 10 000 new promoters of Serbia will leave Universiade Belgrade 2009, as good will ambassadors who will spread the word about Serbia and Belgrade and will do more than the most extensive promotion campaign. Aware of the privilege, organizers, together with citizens of Serbia and Belgrade are resolved to make the 25th Summer Universiade a memorable event.

Official Website: http://www.ub2009.org/