"Universiade is a good step towards Winter Olympics. I wish good luck to both Zakopane of Poland and Harbin of China," said Krzysztof Szumki, Polish ambassador to China, on Thursday.
"We have the same Olympic dream, I know both Zakopane and Harbin hope to host Winter Olympics in the future," said Szumki on the "Poland Day" when the Polish University Sports Associations (AZS) celebrated its centenary anniversary at the 24th Winter Universiade, running in China's northeastern Heilongjiang province through Feb. 28.
While AZS has produced a great number of medalists in the past century, "I believe that in this Winter Universiade, Polish students will provide us, Poles living in China, with joy and emotions due to their results and proper attitudes," said the ambassador on the Poland Day celebration.
Zakopane, the southern Polish mountainous city, hosted the 20th Winter Universiade in 2001 and "we have the dream for the Winter Olympics, and Poznan is bidding for the 2015 World Universiade," said Szumki.
For the ongoing Universiade in Harbin, the Polish diplomat said that splendid atmosphere has been provided in Harbin for sports competition and "I wish Harbin good luck."
(Xinhua New Agency February 20, 2009)