Gary Anderson: As the Trentino 2013 bell gets ready to toll I leave with much more than I came

With just one day to go until the Closing Ceremony of the 26th Winter Universiade in Trentino, bringing to an end 11 days of sporting action on the snow and ice, it appears the weather-Gods have finally given in to the inevitable as clear skies have been replaced by clouds and sleet showers.

Whilst still being bitterly cold, the athletes have gone about the task of accruing medals over the last week-and-a-half in near perfect conditions which in a way has summed up the general mood here in Trentino, which is one of brightness and optimism.

For myself, I came to Trentino 2013 with a completely blank sheet in terms of what to expect and I must say it has been an experience to say the least.

Having never been outside the country before on a solo-expedition, I arrived at the airport in Verona with a fairly hefty amount of trepidation, which was soon given traction by the sound of foreign accents and incomprehensible signs that greeted my passing through the arrivals lounge.

Ah yes, I know what you are thinking; "Well you are going to Italy, what did you expect?" (It was former Liverpool striker Ian Rush who described his one season in Serie A with Juventus more than 25 years ago as "like living in a foreign country").

Well, yes you are right, but as I said, I did not know what to expect but I soon realised that it was now time to step up and become versed in the art of pigeon-Italian and extravagant hand signals, or risk being literally left out in the cold.

If nothing else, I have improved my miming skills no end, so watch out back home the next time someone suggests a game of charades.

Preparations for the Closing Ceremony of Trentino 2013 will be swinging into gear as he 26th Winter Universiade draws to a close ©Gary Anderson/ITG

Preparations for the Closing Ceremony of Trentino 2013 will be swinging into gear as the 26th Winter Universiade draws to a close ©Gary Anderson/ITG

Having managed to wangle my way onto a bus bringing athletes and officials straight to Trento, I sat back and pondered on the two-hour journey what the next 12 days would bring.

Now in my tenth day I am happy to report that it's a case of so far so good.

Putting aside the fact that I managed to pick up the worst case of man-flu in history - everyone's is always the worst - my time in Trentino has been a great experience.

Flitting between hotel lobbies, the Press Centre at Sanbopolis and the odd competition venue, I have soaked up the full gamut of experiences as well as met some very interesting people along the way.

As I alluded to in my previous blog last week, my brief coming here was to try and infiltrate the inner circle of the International University Sports Federation (FISU) and try to glean any news and information that is floating about the hotel lobby or bar.

It's here among the clink of cappuccino cups and the unending handshakes that the decision makers in FISU and the Universiade Movement construct and formulate, plan and promise, and agree and disagree.

Plonking myself in the middle of this, bedecked in my best insidethegames attire, I attempted to immerse seamlessly into this environment. I must admit that at times I felt like the boy who turns up late to a game in the park and is standing on the sidelines waiting to grab the attention of the others and be allowed to join a team. I hovered and slinked my way through the suits and the various pockets of powerbrokers huddled together in all corners of the room, and occasionally I got invited to join the game.

Coffee and croissants have been a staple diet here in Trentino ©Gary Anderson/ITG

The most striking thing about this experience is the sheer scale and variety of the many different accents and faces that make up the Universiade Movement. There are 167 National University Sports Federations (NUSFs) that make up FISU and despite many of these nations not having athletes competing here in Trentino; it seems that most had representation on the official side.

As is naturally the case, the summer versions of large international multi-sport events always tend to be larger in scale and size compared to winter versions and that is no different here in Trentino. Around 3,000 students from over 50 countries are in northern Italy to take part in the Games, compared to some 12,000 competitors from more than 160 countries at Kazan 2013, earlier this year.

However, no matter how much FISU and its officials extol the virtues of expansion and growth, which admittedly is a vital factor in the continued success of the Movement; it is crude to suggest that the measure of success of any Universiade is its scale and size.

While Trentino 2013 can lay claim to being the biggest Winter Universiade in history both in terms of numbers of competitors and the geographical spread of the 10 venues across the Autonomous Province of Trento - brought about by the short amount of time it had to stage the Games - it does not feel like a mammoth international event.

This is a positive thing.

The Trentino 2013 Media and Press Centre at Sanbopolis has become a familiar haunt ©Gary Anderson/ITG

With no central Athletes Village, it would have been easy to assume that the experience for competitors would have been somewhat tapered by a lack of a central hub but from what I have seen and speaking to some students, this year's Universiade has been a hugely enjoyable experience.

With athletes spread across 85 hotels and various clusters of sports taking place across the five regions of Trento, these pockets of students have had the chance to form stronger bonds with those from other nations, even with those they are competing against.

This was evident at the speed skating competition I attended at Baselga di Pine yesterday.

I pitched up at the Ice Rink expecting a tough, uncompromising battle between the team pursuit skaters taking part, all looking to give every last ounce of energy and will-power to claim a coveted medal. While I was not disappointed at all with the level of skill and will-to-win on show, I was struck by the camaraderie between each set of competitors from nations as far apart as Russia and Japan to South Korea and the Netherlands.

As each team took to the ice, skaters from other nations stood and watched, and although, many were sizing up potential opponents, there was a genuine rapport between the competitors which even extended to shouts of support as the skaters slid their way round the oval battlefield.

Curious as to why such a high level of mutual respect was on show, I remarked to an official from the Norway team - whom I correctly assumed would have good English - that this seemed more like a mass training camp rather than an international competition.

Members of the Norway speed skating team sit and support their Italian rivals despite the heat of competition ©Gary Anderson/ITG

"Yes, I know it seems that way but don't be fooled," she said.

"Everyone here wants to get a medal for sure and are trying to the limit.

"But, a lot of these guys stay in the same hotel or village these last days at the Universiade, and have really made some friends.

"I think this is really good because obviously winning is always nice but having a good time and meeting new people is something good that happens at Universiades."

At the risk of sounding slightly cheesy, this is probably the abiding memory I will take with me when I leave Trentino. I came here expecting this huge all-consuming mega-event but instead have seen that whether it is quiet little chats in a corner of a hotel or the simple act of showing respect and striking up a friendship with an opponent, it is the little things that have made the 26th Winter Universiade a special event.

Gary Anderson is a reporter for insidethegames. To follow him on Twitter click here.