China proves to the world its capability to host the 2018 Winter Olympics in preparing for the 24th Winter Universiade, said president George Killian of the International University Sports Federation (FISU) here on Tuesday.

He believed the bid of the Winter Olympics was almost within China's reach since the northeastern city of Harbin had made first-class preparations for world winter sports.

Elaborating on Harbin's unique preparations for the Winter Universiade slated for Feb. 18-28, Killian said the city had constructed quite a lot brand-new sports venues with most advanced technology, turning the Maoershan mountainous village into a professional ski resort.

These excellent infrastructure and the precious experience Harbin summed up during the preparation for the Univerisade, paves the way to win the bid for the 2018 Winter Olympics, said the 85-year-old.

Four years ago, Killian declared Harbin won the right to host 2009 Winter Uiversiade at an FISU executive conference. It is the first time China sponsors the biennial Games, and the third time in Asia.

"Beijing successfully held the 2008 Olympic Games seven years after holding the Summer Universiade for the first time in 2001," said Killian, referring "seven" as his lucky number.

"Now it is the first time Harbin holds the Winter Universiade. Seven years later from now, you will be excited to prepare for the Winter Olympics," said a smiling Killian.

Comparing the specialties between Harbin Universiade with the previous ones, Kairis Ulp, vice-chair of the FISU International Technical Committee, said the winter sport is not much developed in China, and many competitions had never been staged in the country. However, the city built lots of sports venues from the very beginning, and made perfect preparations for the Games, she added.

China has invested a total of 2.6 billion yuan (US$370 million) to build or upgrade the sport facilities for the Games.

"I know you can do it. I was amazed to see the great progress of the city over the years and I believe Harbin is fully competent to hold a best-ever Universiade," said Killian.

He encouraged more and more people to participate in the upcoming Games to watch the performance of the university athletes. "The athletes of the Universiade are the athletes of tomorrow. You may see them again in the Olympics," he added.

The 10-day competitions attracted a record high of about 4,000 athletes and officials from 44 countries and regions. They will compete in 12 sports and 81 events.

(Xinhua News Agency February 17, 2009)