Romanian Bid For The 2021 Summer Universiade Gains Traction

(ATR)Romanian President Klaus Iohannis and Olympian Nadia Comaneci have voiced support for a bid for the 2021 Summer Universiade.

The Romanian University Sport Association and the Vasile Tomoiaga Association announced plans to bid during a press conference in Bucharest on Tuesday.

Iohannis voiced his hopes for the bid.

"An event of this scale will be beneficial for Romania both economically and socially.The Universiade will improve the image of our country and develop tourism."

"With this Universiade, large investments will also be made to the development of sport in Romania."

FISU opened the bidding process for the 2021 Winter and Summer Universiades in September of last year.

Romania hosted the 11th edition of the Summer Universiade in 1981. Competition, which gathered almost 3,000 student athletes from some 86 countries, took place in Bucharest.

Today's Universiade has grown to include some 10,000 athletes from over 170 countries.

Olympian Nadia Comaneci competed in the 1981 Summer Universiade and won five gold medals.

"I emphasize that our country is a territory full of champions and beauty," Comaneci told the Romanian National News Agency video message. "I support this initiative."

FISU says the Romanian University Sports Federation has suggested the 2021 Summer Universiade be staged in Bucharest and Cluj. This proposal is awaiting the Romanian government's approval.

Romania has announced it will bid for the 2021 Summer Universiade.

This year's Summer Universiade in Gwangju, South Korea will take place July 3-14, while the 2017 edition is scheduled to be held in Taipei, Taiwan from August 19-30.

Written byNicole Bennett

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