From September 2nd to 5th the 12th World University Golf Championships took place at Sun City, South Africa. Drama unfolded throughout the final day of the Championship. Japan demonstrated their class by winning the men's team event. Spain performed extremely well to jump two places into the silver medal position ahead of Great Britain. The USA dominated the women's team event, taking gold ahead of Switzerland and France respectively.
Despite a poor start to his final round, Leonardo Motto (ITA) held on to claim victory ahead of Yuki Usami (JPN) with Andy Shakespear (GBR) taking the Bronze in the men's event.
The lead changed hands on numerous occasions in the women's event before Marion Ricordeau (FRA) overtook Katie Tewell (USA) to win the Gold. Caroline Rominger (SUI) took the Bronze medal.
In conclusion, University Sport South Africa, together with Tshwane University of Technology, Sun City and the Gary Player Country Club offered an excellent venue and a fantastic atmosphere to ensure that the championships were a resounding success.
Glen Bentley, President of USSA, said at the Closing and Medal awarding ceremony: "On behalf of USSA we are proud we hosted this championship. We hope we have exceeded your expectations." Indeed the players and officials from 18 countries, with a total of 160 participants, were highly excited about this event. On behalf of FISU, EC Member Leonz Eder thanked the Organising Committee under the leadership of Chaka Croucamp for the excellent job. Leonz Eder and Alberto Gualtieri presented the FISU plaques to the OC and USSA leaders and the medals to the winners, joined by 1st Assessor Malumbethe Ralethe. The FISU flag was then given to the Mayor of Malaga, host of the 13th WUC Golf in 2010.
More info on the OC website at http://www.wucgolf2008.com and on www.fisu.net.
FISU stands for Federation Internationale du Sport Universitaire (International University Sports Federation), founded in 1949. FISU's main responsibility is the supervision of both Summer and Winter Universiades as well as the World University Championships. The Universiade is an international sporting and cultural festival which is staged every two years in a different city and which is second in importance only to the Olympic Games.
The Summer Universiade consists of 12 compulsory sports (Athletics - Basketball - Fencing - Football - Gymnastics - Swimming - Diving - Water Polo – Tennis – Table Tennis - Judo - Volleyball) and up to three optional sports chosen by the host country. The record figures are 9,006 participants in Bangkok, Thailand in 2007 and 174 countries in Daegu, Korea in 2003.
The Winter Universiade consists of 7 compulsory sports (Alpine skiing - Nordic skiing composed of jump, cross country & combined - Biathlon - Ice Hockey - Short-Track - Speed Skating - Figure Skating - Curling) and one or two optional sports also chosen by the host country. The Winter Universiade gathered a record 2,511 participants in Torino in 2007 and a record number of 50 countries in Innsbruck, Austria in 2005.
The World University Championships are organized every even year in sports which do not figure on the compulsory Universiade program. In 2006 28 different WUC were staged all over the world.
For more info or pictures, do not hesitate to contact FISU Media department at media@fisu.net or surf to www.fisu.net.
