Inspectors from the International University Sports Federation (FISU), led by FISU Vice President Stefan Bergh, front, take a moment of silence at the May 18 Memorial Cemetery in Gwangju on Friday. / Korea Times Photo by Shim Hyun-chul

By Kim Tong-hyung
Staff Reporter

Organizers of Gwangju's bid to host the 2013 Universiade were in an upbeat mood Thursday, feeling they had impressed the visiting inspectors from the International University Sports Federation (FISU).

This was after the six-member evaluation commission, led by FISU Vice President Stefan Bergh, had yet to tour a single sporting venue.

Instead, the assessment of the Gwangju bid began in a graveyard, quite an unusual choice by a host trying to bring home the world student games.

The May 18 Memorial Cemetery is the burial site of more than 300 Gwangju citizens and students, most of them believed to have been killed during a bloody suppression of a pro-democracy demonstration in 1980 that started on that date.

It is somewhat of a glorified scar that doubles as a painful reminder of the city's tortured past and a monument of pride testifying its part in the struggle against the military dictatorship that ruled South Korea throughout most of the 1980s.

Since its construction in 1997, the cemetery has been a pilgrimage point for politicians and foreign dignitaries visiting the city, and the FISU evaluation commission was no exception.

It was a drastic change of scenery for the visitors, who had arrived the previous evening upon a lavish reception with thousands of spectators forming a human belt across the city and screaming ``Welcome Pisoo (FISU)."

Bergh agreed that a visit to the memorial was an unusual way to start an inspection, but also said Gwangju's history in the country's democratization movement, which students were a large part of, would serve as a distinctive backdrop to the student games should the Koreans win the bid.

``I have had knowledge about the May 18 incident, but I was glad to learn more about this part of the city's history and get a feel for its spirit," the Swedish sports administrator said.

``It's great to see that the incident is remembered by such a nicely built monument.''

Malumbete Michael Ralethe, a FISU inspector from South Africa, had a more emotional reaction to the visit. Ralethe connected the May 18 incident with the history of his own country ― the June 16 massacre of students and school children during the Soweto Uprising of 1976.

``Gwangju hosting the Universiade would be a statement to honor those who were sacrificed," he said.

Gwangju officials are relying heavily on emotion in delivering their message to the FISU inspectors, following the script of PyeongChang, which had used the stories of separated families between the two Koreas after the 1950-1953 war as a rallying point in its bid for the 2014 Winter Olympics.

However, a real test comes Saturday when the FISU officials tour the city's sports venues, including the landmark Gwangju World Cup Stadium, which hosted the quarterfinal football match between South Korea and Spain during the 2002 World Cup, and other facilities including the venues at Chosun University and Honam University.

The inspectors also received a briefing on the overall concept of the Gwangju bid and specific issues such as immigration control and customs, security, and the financing and management of the games. The meeting was closed to media members.

Bergh declined to comment on what he thinks is Gwangju's most distinctive feature as a candidate city for the Universiade.

``It's too early to comment on that. Maybe we will have something to say after tomorrow," he said.

``All I can say is, we were impressed by the warm reception and strong level of enthusiasm among citizens to host the Universiade.''

Kim Yoon-seok, Daegu's vice mayor for political affairs, who attended the briefing, told reporters that the FISU inspectors had a generally positive reaction to the bid, but also suggested city officials to update their cost estimation of the spending on infrastructure and transport should they host the games in 2013.

thkim@koreatimes.co.kr