"Student Games won't be moved"

Though the budget for next year’s World Student Games has been halved and the number of sports cut to 15, the organizers insist the event will go ahead. According to statements from the International University Sport Federation (FISU) and the Belgrade organizers, there will be no change of venue. "Student Games won't be moved" In recent days, there has been speculation that the event could be moved to Athens should Serbia be unable to offer firm guarantees for its organization by mid-November. The organizers tried to justify the budget cuts and the reduction in the number of sports by stating that there was insufficient time left to ensure the necessary conditions and purchase equipment for 21 sports and 13,000 competitors, as initially planned. The organizers have also been hit by scandals where contracts were concluded without public tender, and in which Sinisa Jasnic, the managing director of Univerzijada 2009, the company organizing the Games, was directly involved. Belgrade University Rector Branko Kovacevic has also warned that Serbia could lose the Games if it fails to guarantee that it has sufficient funds and resources for organizing the event by the middle of next month. Kovacevic is currently not available for comment. However, International University Sport Federation Director-General Eric Saintrond has dismissed the rumors of the Games being moved to Athens, and said that he would be coming to Belgrade next week. “We received information through the media yesterday that the budget proposed at the meeting in October of over EUR 40mn will be guaranteed by the government,“ said Saintrond. “What we’re going to do now is go through all the items on the budget to make sure that everything is suitably covered—whether there is enough money for technology, catering and so on,“ he added. “We’ve also heard rumors that FISU wants to move the Games to Athens, but that is totally inaccurate. We have no plans to go to Athens. We’ve never had such a plan,“ said the FISU boss. Meanwhile, the Univerzijada 2009 organizational committee has adopted a budget of EUR 41.2mn for next year, while all other changes have been agreed with FISU. Univerzijada 2009 Chairman Nebojsa Ilic has also refuted the rumors of a move to Athens. “At no point has any information appeared, nor has anyone suggested, that the Games could be held in Athens instead of Belgrade,“ said Ilic. “I’m very surprised at today’s headlines in certain media where the rector mentions Athens. He was also at the meeting of the organizational committee. The budget adopted yesterday was the final budget and everything that needed to be said about it, Mr. [Bozidar] Djelic told the press conference,” he stressed. The Games’ opening and closing ceremonies will take place in the Belgrade Arena, not at the Marakana. Games officials, headed by Deputy Prime Minister Djelic, say that this will save EUR 3.1mn. EUR 4.3mn will be saved on timing equipment, while the reduction in the amount of sports will save EUR 6.4mn. A further EUR 7.1mn will be saved by engaging the services of the Military-Medical Academy for all medical treatment. B92

"Student Games won't be moved"

In recent days, there has been speculation that the event could be moved to Athens should Serbia be unable to offer firm guarantees for its organization by mid-November.

The organizers tried to justify the budget cuts and the reduction in the number of sports by stating that there was insufficient time left to ensure the necessary conditions and purchase equipment for 21 sports and 13,000 competitors, as initially planned.

The organizers have also been hit by scandals where contracts were concluded without public tender, and in which Siniša Jasnić, the managing director of Univerzijada 2009, the company organizing the Games, was directly involved.

Belgrade University Rector Branko Kovačević has also warned that Serbia could lose the Games if it fails to guarantee that it has sufficient funds and resources for organizing the event by the middle of next month. Kovačević is currently not available for comment.

However, International University Sport Federation Director-General Eric Saintrond has dismissed the rumors of the Games being moved to Athens, and said that he would be coming to Belgrade next week.

“We received information through the media yesterday that the budget proposed at the meeting in October of over EUR 40mn will be guaranteed by the government,“ said Saintrond.

“What we’re going to do now is go through all the items on the budget to make sure that everything is suitably covered—whether there is enough money for technology, catering and so on,“ he added.

“We’ve also heard rumors that FISU wants to move the Games to Athens, but that is totally inaccurate. We have no plans to go to Athens. We’ve never had such a plan,“ said the FISU boss.

Meanwhile, the Univerzijada 2009 organizational committee has adopted a budget of EUR 41.2mn for next year, while all other changes have been agreed with FISU.

Univerzijada 2009 Chairman Nebojša Ilić has also refuted the rumors of a move to Athens.

“At no point has any information appeared, nor has anyone suggested, that the Games could be held in Athens instead of Belgrade,“ said Ilić.

“I’m very surprised at today’s headlines in certain media where the rector mentions Athens. He was also at the meeting of the organizational committee. The budget adopted yesterday was the final budget and everything that needed to be said about it, Mr. [Božidar] Đelić told the press conference,” he stressed.

The Games’ opening and closing ceremonies will take place in the Belgrade Arena, not at the Marakana. Games officials, headed by Deputy Prime Minister Đelić, say that this will save EUR 3.1mn.

EUR 4.3mn will be saved on timing equipment, while the reduction in the amount of sports will save EUR 6.4mn. A further EUR 7.1mn will be saved by engaging the services of the Military-Medical Academy for all medical treatment.