Gwangju Universiade concludes, labelled as "a big, big success"

Performers perform during the closing ceremony of 2015 Summer Universiade at the Gwangju World Cup Stadium in Gwangju, South Korea, on July 14, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

GWANGJU, South Korea -- The 12-day 2015 Gwangju Summer Universiade concluded here on Tuesday and was praised as "a big, big success".

At the final press briefing, Claude-Louis Gallien, president of the International University Sports Federation (FISU), said that all the athletes and coaches were "very happy" to have taken part in the Universiade here in Gwangju, some 330 kilometers southwest of Seoul.

"It's not a miracle, it's a big, big success," Gallien said. "It's the fruit of a lot of work during the games from 30,000 people on the organizing committee staff and 20,000 volunteers. They were extremely important."

Gallien also said that the quality of play and venues was "considered by everyone very high."

"In some individual and team sports, the quality was at the world level," he said. "There has been nothing but good games from the sports' point of view."

Gallien mentioned the men's basketball final between the United States and Germany which the U.S. team won 84-77 after two overtimes, and archery competitions and the men's 100m sprint in which South African runner Akani Simbine clocked 9.97 seconds for the title.