The USA delegation took the upcoming 24th Winter Universiade as a new experience for their student-athletes as they also expected to win more medals in Harbin, a city in northeast China.

Craig Jonas, the spokesman in the delegation, told Xinhua in the Athletes' Village that a total of 53 American student-athletes and 27 officials had arrived in Harbin on Sunday.

The college and university athletes comprise teams in men's and women's curling, men's ice hockey, men's and women's figure skating, and women's synchronized skating.

"All the athletes are from different colleges and universities, majoring in different fields such as science, education and arts. We will be vying for medals, but the most important thing for the students here is seeing and experiencing the whole city," said Jonas.

"We really like the athletes' village and it is almost a self-contained city with cafes, sports and fitness center, internet cafe, all the things we need during the Universiade. I was also amazed with the hospitality of the volunteers," he said.

The 24th Winter Universiade, slated for February 18-28, features in 12 sports and 81 events and will attract some 2,500 athletes and officials from 44 countries and regions.

(Xinhua News Agency February 17, 2009)