Time Out

Belgrade confirmed its reputation for being a city of fantastic parties

Sports, games and making friends are the light-motifs of every Universiade. This one was also marked by these experiences, and its ending was crowned by the farewell dinner at Plastic light on the Sava river, with lots of great music span by DJ Prema, ex member of once very popular rap band 187. The athletes managed to be successful on this new field too.

The entrance to this boat club was crowded even at 2am with athletes and also volunteers who wanted to meet them and have fun until the morning. Besides, there were many athletes on other boat clubs in Plastic’s vicinity – Freestayler, Sound and Rich.

Last night was not the only night athletes went out to see Belgrade and have fun. Members of the Canadian national team have had fun before.

- Friday night we went with some friends to the boat clubs and we had fun. It was very cheerful, we liked the music and the atmosphere there, as well as the people.Many volunteers of the Universiade go to those places, they recommended them to us, and we all had a great time together. I am very thankful to the guy who accompanied us to the University Village after the party. We enjoyed the organized sightseeing by bus, it was nice to see some of the city sights. We have some parties ahead of us until Monday, and then we are going back home. We do not plan on where to go exactly, we will go to the city and stay at a place that seems like fun.

- We went to see some interesting places for night fun with our team mates. We do not know their names, but they are very nice. At the clubs we saw there were a lot of people having fun. We liked the fact we had a chance to listen to various types of music – Techno, R’n’B, latino and hear some Serbian music, it is ok, and you can dance to it. Girls in Serbia are very pretty – said member of the team from Ghana.

- We did not go out much because we needed peace and quiet to rest and sleep enough so we could achieve good results. Friday we went to a boat club and we had a good time. It was the first time we went out to a club in this city. We have not had much time to see many places and get to know the fun side of Belgrade, but we are leaving on the 15th of July so we will have enough time for that too. We hope to fulfill our Belgrade impressions with some great fun in Serbia – explained Spanish athletes.

Most athletes had a lot of fun and enjoyed in a diverse music programme. Finally, their impression is that it is was very nice, but they said that the volunteers had a lot of fun too.

MK

IP

http://www.ub2009.org/dokumenta/revija/revija_13.pdf

Eleven-Year-Old-Boy among Volunteers

Being an excellent student and a successful football player Petar represents Serbia in the right way as a volunteer at the Universiade.

Eleven-year old Petar Ugrica is one of the youngest volunteers at the Universiade in Belgrade. He finished the fourth grade of Elementary School and is an excellent student. He is not only a volunteer but a football player also in the school for the young players FC Lokomotiva.

This is his first time volunteering and he says he would apply agian.

- I really like it here. I had contacts with volunteers, but not with athletes. Mostly I collect balls. They treat me really nice, they do not make a difference whether we are younger or older, they treat everyone the same. We all hang out together – said Petar.

How long have you been practicing football?

- For five years now. I am a captain of the children team of 98 and I play with the older players who are born in 96. I have already competed in several tournaments and I had good results. At the last International competition in New Belgrade we won the fourth place.

You had been practicing basketball, why did you decide to take up football instead?

- First I started playing basketball when I was very young. Before the practice I was always playing football and so one day by accident I broke my arm after which I quit basketball. Later my parents noticed that I like football.

Do you watch any of the sports competitions at the Universiade?

- I watch basketball, football, tennis and volleyball. Sometimes when our team plays I watch water polo as well. I always support our team, only the football team did not play very well, everyone else did. I will certainly go to the closing ceremony.

What will you remember the most from this Universiade?

- I will remember the heavy rain that caught me the other day. Women team of France and Thailand were playing. It started raining and the match was cancelled. Only a few of us stayed to collect the balls but the rain was starting to pour. We had nowhere to hide so we started running across the court to the benches. I grabbed the first parasol to hide under and began running. Finally, we managed to hide. It was really funny.

Would you like to say something to your peers and other volunteers?

- They should apply for volunteering. They can hang out and do something new.

While Petar was showing us what he does on the court and how he keeps everything in order for the athletes, Vojkan Brasulic, the coach of the FC Lokomotiva, said:

- Petar is one of the best players in the children team. From the very beginning, he was regularly coming to practices and showed a great interest and desire to be even better. We hope he will be very successful as a football player in some of the best Serbian clubs or further. It is too bad he did not had an opportunity to see more football matches and be more involved in the Universiade but I am sure that this will not be last time he volunteers.

M.K

http://www.ub2009.org/dokumenta/revija/12_review_01-16.pdf

Beauty and Universiade

In the spirit of sport and beauty, Miss Serbia of 2009 was elected in Belgrade. New Miss Serbia, Jelena Marković, comes from Uzice, she is twenty years old and was born in Pozega. She studies Law and speaks English, Italian and Russian. For the Review, she said – Of course I watch the Universiade. In general, I watch karate the most because this is my favorite sport. I have been practicing karate for 9 years. Our preparations are during the Universiade but I still manage to follow the latest happenings.

There were 27 girls who entered the contest. Beside the journalists, the legend of Serbian basketball, Vlade Divac, and Radomir Antić the coach of the football team, were in the jury as well.

M.K

A.B.

http://www.ub2009.org/dokumenta/revija/08_review_01-16.pdf

For USA Journalist the best Universiade

CAROLINE WILLIAMS
Director, Communications

After working in the USA Basketball media and public relations department as an intern, and then completing a one-year position as Assistant Director, Media and public relations, Caroline Williams was hired full time by USA Basketball as an Assistant Director for Media and public relations and promoted to Director of Communications.

As the Director of Communications, she coordinates USA Basketball, including the production of press releases and publications, staffing of USA Basketball trials, team training and competitions while serving as a liaison between basketball staff and the media.

In this moment she is in Belgrade with USA Basketball team and for Belgrade and UB09 organization she says:

- Everything is great. From the Volunteers to the Attaches and Athletes . This is probably the best Universiade in which I worked. In particular, I am satisfied with the attitude towards us media. We have everything we need.

Is this the first time you are in Belgrade?

- I was in Novi Sad three years ago, so I actually then flew to Belgrade Airport, but yes this is my first time in Belgrade for this long.

What do you like most in the capital?

- Kalemegdan park.

Do you like Bellvile, University village?

- In Bellvile I am placed and I like it a lot. It’s beautiful. All athletes are there from all over the world, meeting each other. Everybody are happy! As much as men’s and women’s basketball team really enjoy at the Universiade.

From whom sporting events you had coverage until now?

- I was in four Summer Olympics, two winter and I think this is my fifth Universiade. But I can say that this one is the best.

Is Universiade popular in the United States?

- Yes, but people are not sure what it is. They know the Olympic games and attention is also paid to competition between different colleges. But of course, in this moment, they monitoring what happens and how plays athletes from USA at the Universiade.

How did you feel when the crowd “boo” reacted to the U. S. flag during the opening ceremony of the Universiade?

- I felt bad. The girl who wore the flag should be proud and feel great, but she told us that she did not feel great and comfortable because of the reaction of the audience. With us are all Universiade staff and people around fine, there is no problems in communication. Still that kind of things happened.

M.K.

Athletics is My Passion

INTERVIEW WITH NELSON EVORA

Portuguese athlete Nelson Evora, Olympic and world champion in triple jump jumped slashing into hearts of all volonteers and journalist, who were at his press conference in Sava Centre yesterday. Perhaps, we could have expected the world’s best triple jumper to be introvert, maybe even pretentious, but he received applauses and smiles from the people, thanks to his charming and outgoing personality. At first sight, Evora looks like someone you have known all your life, as a simple guy from your neighborhood always ready to spend some time with you. His warm character is where this exclusive chat for Review UB2009 emerged from…

You are the best athlete at the Universiade. How do you teel about it?

- Am I the best? I did not know that…

Well, now that you know, how do you feel?

- Great!

When you were a cadet and a junior competitor, you were excellent both in long jump and high jump. What made you choose to compete in triple jump?

- A knee injury during one of the competitions in 2000. It was a bad thing that eventually ended well.

What is your favorite sport, beside athletics?

- I love tennis and play football. I do not like handball, but I like carting. I like Formula 1 competitions, but not to watch it on TV because I get bored.

Have you ever met any of the famous athletes form Portual, such as Cristiano Ronaldo or Deco?

- I have never met Ronaldo. I know Nuno Gomes and Luis Figo from Benfica. I do not hang out with famous people. I am not used to it, besides I do not have enough time for my social life. Most of my friends are not celebrities.

Do you have a special diet?

- I eat everything. As you can see, I am very slim, but sometimes I have special diet. Sometimes I need some changes, meat, McDonalds… While on a diet I eat all the right things, healthy food, I eat pasta- I like italian cuisine.

You have seen many countries and cities. Is there a place you would like to go back to, or even settle down?

- I travel everywhere, but I never have enough time to see everything. I like Europe, especially Greece. Once I went to Thessaloniki and I liked it a lot. Ireland is wonderful too, Brazil… All countries where I do not have to speak English. (Laughter!)

This is your first time in Serbia. Have you had a chance to go sightseeing, meet someone or exchange phone numbers or Facebook?

- I have recently opened my Facebook profile, I did not even know there were so many people called Nelson Evora. I have been informed of that fact upon my arrival to the Village and i was surprised. I do not use it much. To tell you the truth I do not even know how to use it yet, but as soon as I get back to the Village I am going to check what new on my profile is. I am planning on going sightseeing as soon as I get the chance, I would like to get to know the culture of this city and its sights.

Have you been advised about the things you should see?

- You tell me…

Who? Us… We can take you…

- Ok, we have a deal, you ake me…

Do you have a hobby, something you do at your spare time, when you are at home?

- I like going to the cinema. My favorite film is The City of Angels, and my favorite actor is Antonio Banderas. I like Julia Roberts for her big smile and her charm.

What do the members of your family think of your carrier and what does their support meant to you?

- Naturally, they can not accompany me at all my competitions around the world, but they have supported me for as long as I can remember. I have always had their full support in everything I did. My father was a football player in Africa.

What made you choose athletics then?

- It is my passion. When I was a little boy I liked placing stones on the street and jump over so I could see how far I can go. People from the street I grew up in  and where I still live with my parents like to talk about how they used to see me jump all the time. At the beginning they thought I was just some crazy boy, and now they can see me on TV.

What does the neighborhood you grew up in look like?

- It looks great. It is a pretty ordinary place, with no big houses like the ones celebrities have. I live with my parents, and even if I get to be rich and famous one day, I will not wish to buy huge houses. I want to have normal house. Just like the one I grew up in.

Do you have brother or a sister?

- My big brother and sister are something around thirty years old, I am not exactly sure.. (Laughter!) They have practiced some sports, but they have stopped, and my youngest sister is eighteen and she is also into athletics. She is a sprinter and now at her beginnings.

Since your father cam from Cape Verde, are you related to the famous singer Cesaria Evora?

- My mother is form Cote d’ivoire. Since my mother died, I got a stepmother who is from Cape Verde. We are distant relatives with Cesaria Evora. The surname Evora is very common where I come from. I do not know why, but I am the only one with a short name in our family.

Since you like listening to music, do you like fado?

- Naturally, I like it and I listen to it with pleasure.

What is the difference between the Olympic Village in China and the University Village in Belgrade?

- To be honest, everything was perfect in China. Well, it is China… We all know its potentials. However, I really did not expect everything in Serbia to be organized so well. Everything is so perfect. I am happy to be here and we have absolutely all we need to practice normally and prepare for our competitions.

Is there a message you would like to give to the people in Serbia?

- I hope I will have some time to have fun and enjoy beautiful moments in Belgrade before the end of Universiade, since these are the things that make the good side of life. I hope to have a good time just like all of you here. I was very curious prior to coming here, and now I am glad to be here.

MK – AB – JŠ

 

http://www.ub2009.org/dokumenta/revija/06_review_01-16.pdf

Poznati o Univerzijadi

Danilo Ikodinović

vaterpolista, olimpijac

Pratim samo vaterpolo turnir, ali po onome što vidim u novinama i na televiziji, a isto tako i po onome što strani novinari pišu, ova Univerzijada u Beogradu je poprilično lepo organizovana. Ovo je jedna lepa stvar, najveći sportski događaj koji je ikad napravljen kod nas. Stvarno je super!

http://www.universiade-belgrade2009.org/Contents/Content5.aspx?sid=7&id=45

Košarakaš, maneken i internet zvezda

Intervju: Roberto Prandin, član košarkaške reprezentacije Italije

Roberto Prandin, odbrambeni igrač univerzitetske selekcije Italije u košarci, rodom je iz Venecije. Za svoje dvadeset tri godine pored uspešne košarkaške karijere oprobao se kao model, a ima i klub oobožavatelja, što mu, priznaje, veoma godi. Italija je na studentskim igrama u Beogradu do sada odigrala dve utakmice uz polovičan uspeh.
- Ovo je moja prva Univerzijada pa još uvek ne znam šta da očekujem. Izgubili smo od Kanade, ali smo pobedili Kinu tako da sam poprilično zadovoljan – kaže Prandin.

Posle tri uspešne godine u drugoligašu iz rodnog grada, Rejer Veneciji, prešao je u klub Fulgor Fidenza. Pored obaveza u klubu, veoma često nastupa na brojnim međunarodnim takmičenjima.
- 2005. godine sam osvojio bronzu na Mondiali Militari u Samari. Iskreno se nadam da ću ovde osvojiti još neku medalju. Najveću pretnju vidim u igračima srpske reprezentacije jer su svi profesionalci – rekao je Prandin.
U Rejersima, Prandin nije bio samo košarkaš, već je prve godine sa još 3 saigrača postao i zaštitno lice Rejer stora. To je bilo pre tri godine, tačnije moje prve godine u tom klubu.. Mogu reći jedno veoma sjajno i zabavno iskustvo.
Pored toga na društvenoj mreži fejsbuk ima i svoj klub obožavatelja.
- Imam mali fan klub sa specijalnim prijateljima i onima koji podržavaju i prate moje igre I karijeru.
Od brojnih treninga još uvek nije imao prilike da obiđe srpsku prestonicu, ali će prvi slobodan dan iskoristiti da obiđe centar grada i upozna se malo više sa znamenitostima Beograda i ljudima.

http://www.universiade-belgrade2009.org/Contents/Content2.aspx?sid=7&id=40&cid=4090

Francesco Likes Serbian Girls

Alhazmi has Katarina’s phone number – Juan Carlos feels like at home – Grey loves Parties in Belvile – Tennise player Molly wants to meet Djokovic – Salem is enchanted by Serbian hospitality

When we asked about his expectations, Alhazmi Abdularhman, the judoku from Saudi Arabia, said – Befire I came here I have been practicing really hard with other judokas from China and Saudia Arabia. Now I am at the Military Academy where things are nicely organized and we have everything we need. I have had the opportunity to go sightseeing, I have been downtown and I am really delighted with Kalemegdan Park. I have met a great nubmer of people who are neither employed at the Universiade nor volunteers and I hope to meet a lot of new friends. In addition to that, he said – People are really outgoing and kind, we have already exchanged our phone numbers. – Again, asked whether these people were volonteers or someone he met while visiting attractions of Belgrade, he answered with a smile – They are not volunteers, just regular guys and girls. Katarina! That is the name of a girl who gave me her phone number and I am sure we will see each other again and go out while I am still here.

Juan Carlos from Guatemala (26) is one of the oldest competitors and he claims that he feels great – I went to Thailand two years ago and I expect an improvement at this Universiade. I am hoping for a fourth place at least. Belgrade is so beautiful. I have seen downtown where I liked  Kalemegdan the most. Thank you for your warm hospitality, you are very kind. The moment i landed at the airport I felt as if I were home.

Twenty-four year old Grey Alexis, the US basketball player, claims that she was slightly frightened. She did not expect that people would be so outgoing towards the foreign athletes and foreigners in general, but she was pleasantly surprised when she and other athletes were so warmly welcomed. – People here are great, there is so much love, everyone is friendly and everything is incredible, I cannot wait to come back here again. Commenting on the accommodation in Belvile, she said she is looking forward to party with the rest of athletes since her apartment and the entire Village are fantastic. She had an opportunity to go out in Belgrade and visit  some of the typical Serbian taverns, which was a quite interesting experience.

The swimmer, Kigobe Robert, and female tennis player, Mbekeka Molly, from Uganda said that they are very happy to be in Belgrade and compete with some of the finest university athletes at one of the best sports events. As a young tennis player, Molly wishes to meet Novak Djokovic now that she is staying in Serbia. - That would be perfect! -

- To be honest, the moment I come to Serbia I felt that the country is very interesting, people are friendly and polite. I like the organization in the Village. It offers us the opportunity to meet other people. Everything is so amazing and we appreciate it a lot, said Mubarak Salem representing the United Arab Emirates’ delegation.

The Spanish water polo players are expecting the gold medal. The team captain Francesco said – We came here for the gold medal, we want to become champions. The food is tasty and the beautiful Serbian girls are what I like the most.

MK

AB

http://www.ub2009.org/dokumenta/revija/04_review_01-04.pdf