GWANGJU, Korea — Two Jamaican students, Nadette Grant and Delta Wright from the Edna Manley College of the Visual Arts and University of Technology, respectively, gave a stunning rendition of cultural icon Louise ‘Miss Lou’ Bennett’s Long Time Gal Mi Neva See Yu at the 12th International University Students Federation (FISU) educational forum at the Kim Dae-Jung Convention Centre, Gwangju City, South Korea, last month.

The students sang and danced and got all participants up on their feet dancing and greeting each other and also using the dialect.

Gwangju City has been selected to host the World University Games next summer and the stage seems to be set for a thrilling performance from Jamaica’s student athletes.

Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, Kang Un-tae, said, “Gwangju is not only a city of democracy, human rights, peace, culture and art, but it is also a city of science and hi-tech industries. Now, as I welcome you here I can say that Gwangju is going to become a sports-loving city as well.

“I hope that the 2014 Gwangju FISU Forum will be an auspicious venue for intensive discussions on ways to promote university sports, as well as for networking to share their experiences and wisdom.”

Based on its rich cultural heritage, beautiful environment and the high enthusiasm of its people for the sports, Gwangju City is endeavouring to prepare the 2015 World University Games to perfection.

“Gwangju is wishing to contribute to sports and peace through the hosting of the 2015 Games,” said Kang Un-tae.

There is the very strong possibility that both North and South Korea will be unified at the 28th World University Games.

Kang Un-tae went on to disclose that there is a “positive mood prevailing from the joint effort to create a unified team for South and North Korea as a bold proposal has been put forward”.

The FISU’s response to the issue has been quite positive and the discussions will continue in their May meeting. Gwangju City is hoping for a “positive decision” from the Unification Ministry of Korea on the organising of a ‘unified team’. The ministry is expected to organise all of the relevant details in the latter part of this year.

— Everard Owen