With a ceremony in the Belgrade Arena, at 8 pm tonight, the closing celebration of the 25 summer University Games in Belgrade will be held, which hosted some 7,000 athletes from all continents.

The ceremony envisages the extinguishing of the university flame, presentation of the next host-city, Shenzhen in China, the transfer of the flag and presentation of the Serbian cultural heritage. After the ceremony, the big party will be organized for all participants.

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister for EU integration and head of the Universiade Belgrade 2009 organising committee Bozidar Djelic said that Serbia can be proud of the successful organisation of this sporting event, which has set high standards for the next Universiade.

Speaking at a press conference, Djelic said that this is a triumph for Serbia, adding that this has been the best organised Universiade so far.

This is not the end of our participation in the activities of the International University Sports Federation (FISU). I wish to strengthen our role in FISU, said Djelic, adding that many had underestimated the importance of the Universiade as a sporting event but the results have proven them wrong.

He said that Olympic triple jump champion Nelson Evora won gold at his fifth attempt and 25 new Universiade records were set.

Djelic said that it was extremely difficult to organise the Universiade because it was similar to organising 15 different world championships at the same time.

We have over 8,000 people at the University Village, of which 5,500 are sports-people. A total of 750 journalists were accredited to cover the event, 60 foreign television stations broadcast the event and over 350,000 people have visited the Universiade arenas up until now, said Djelic.

FISU President George Killian said that the organisation of the Universiade will serve to bring Serbia closer to the EU more than anything else, adding that this is a huge success for Serbia.

Serbian Minister of Youth and Sport Snezana Samardzic-Markovic said that the success of the Universiade has confirmed that Serbia can organise major sporting events.

It is good to know that we have set new standards. The Ministry is pleased with the results achieved by the Serbian team, said Samardzic-Markovic.

The Universiade started on July 1 and the closing ceremony will be held on July 12.