SHENZHEN has started to do the groundwork for Universiade 2011, top leader Li Hongzhong said at a welcoming party Saturday after the Shenzhen delegation returned from Turin.

    Li thanked the delegation, led by Mayor Xu Zongheng, for spearheading the city’s historic victory to be chosen as the host, saying it was a hard-earned win generating pride for all its residents.

    “We have just accomplished the first step by winning the bid,” Li said. “From now on, we move to the next step — the beginning of preparations.”

    “We will not fail the expectation of the International University Sports Federation (FISU) to make the games the most successful and influential in its history,” Li said.

    Li elaborated on the must-do things to achieve the goal, which include building first-class sports facilities, creating an effective and competitive organizing committee and an enchanting eco-city, providing comfortable services and taking advantage of the event to present to the world the best of Shenzhen, Guangdong and China.

    Xu, who said he was still overwhelmed by the win, said the past two years’ preparations for the bid had been worthwhile.

    “But it (the victory) is just a starting point,” the mayor said. “It means we have just qualified to host the event. But to make it a success, we have a long way to go.”

    Shenzhen was named host city of the 2011 Summer Universiade on Wednesday Beijing Time in Turin, Italy, beating Kazan of Russia, Kaohsiung of China’s Taiwan, Poznan of Poland and Murcia of Spain.