George Killian, who ends his term as International University Sports Federation president after the Universiade in Shenzhen, poses for a picture with China Daily reporter Lei Lei after receiving a gift. [Photo by Edmond Tang / China Daily]

* Federation president praises China's contribution to Games 

SHENZHEN - At the age of 87, George Killian is still inspired by the spirits of young people. Being president of the International University Sports Federation (FISU) for the past 12 years, Killian, who will end his presidency after the 26th Summer Universiade in Shenzhen, China, still enjoys working with young people.

"When I started out in my young life, I came from the Universiade. I wanted to be a basketball coach; I wanted to be an athletics director; and I succeeded in doing that," Killian told China Daily on the sidelines of the Shenzhen Universiade on Thursday.

"In the early days we formed the FISU. We are proud of it. I enjoy working with young people. "Young people are the world. They are the leaders of the world, because they have a passion for things."

Killian majored in Education at both Bachelor and Masters degree levels, and started his sports life with students' sports.

He coached the basketball teams of Wharton High School between 1949-1951 and Erie Community College, Buffalo, New York, from 1954 to 1969.

He was President of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) from 1990-1998 and in 1996, he was a member of the International Olympic Committee in his capacity as president of FIBA. Killian also served as treasurer of the Panamaerican Basketball Confederation and director of the National Junior College Athletic Association.

After presiding over the US delegation at the Universiades three times, Killian took office in FISU. He was a member of the International Control Commission from 1975 to 1987, after which he was elected Vice-President of FISU. In 1995, Killian was promoted to First Vice President.

On Nov 26, 1999, he was confirmed as FISU President by the Executive Committee succeeding Dr Primo Nebiolo.

On Aug 5, 2007, Killian was reelected for a second full term as President of FISU by an overwhelming majority of the votes at FISU's 30th General Assembly, which was held in Bangkok, Thailand.

In his eighties, Killian will step down as the FISU head, since the FISU Member Associations elected a new Executive Committee at the 32nd General Assembly in Shenzhen on Aug 9. The board will be chaired by Claude-Louis Gallien of France, the former first vice-president of the federation and former French university hammer throwing champion.

The American, who will be the Honorary President of FISU after the Shenzhen games, is satisfied with what he did with FISU over the past decades.

"Up until today, yes; I'm satisfied, but this is just the beginning," Killian said.

"We have been developing plans to keep going and going. There will always be somebody there to take your place and keep going. We are not at the end.".

"There are plans to further develop university sports throughout the world. The biggest input came from people who live in each country. They are the ones to have the plans. What they need is help and caring for their plan."

As the host city of the 26th Summer Universiade, Shenzhen was praised by the veteran head. "What is impressive is the total newness of the buildings, because you took a flat piece of ground and you made this wonderful," Killian said.

"Building one after another, you made a beautiful village and you made a beautiful dining hall, because everybody says the village and the dining hall is very very good. Students love it."

He also appreciated what China did for the development of student sports.

"The Chinese are the leaders," he said. "They help and invite people to share not only knowledge, but also they give money to some project."

As for the new president, Killian said he is "not going to give him any suggestion since that's not fair".

"He (Gallien) has been my fist vice president for 12 years. He understands and he has some of his own ideas," Killian said.

"He has to have the right to put his program into FISU. He has the board and the board will say yes or no."