Lucerne 2021 are set to take part in an observer programme at this year's Winter Universiade in Krasnoyarsk ©Lucerne 2021

Lucerne 2021 are set to send a delegation to next month's Winter Universiade as they seek to learn lessons ahead of hosting the university sport event in two years time.

The delegation will be led by Niklaus Bleiker, a former Cantonal Councillor in Obwalden and vice-president of Lucerne 2021.

He will be joined by Lucerne 2021 managing director Urs Hunkeler.

They will take part in an observer programme at Krasnoyarsk 2019, where they will seek to learn lessons from the Russian organisers at the event due to take place from March 2 until 12 and will feature more than 3,000 athletes competing in 11 sports. 

It is hoped the experience gained will boost Lucerne’s preparations for the next edition of the Winter Universiade.

The programme will see information shared between Krasnoyarsk 2019, the International University Sports Federation (FISU) and Lucerne 2021.

"The Winter Universiade in Krasnoyarsk is one unique opportunity for our organising committee to experience the event first-hand," said Bleiker.

"For us, as the future host of this unique event, this is essential.

"There are still some open points that we have in the context of the observer programme with the planned visits can clarify.

"The Organising Committee in Krasnoyarsk and FISU officials will be valuable to us and can provide input for their own planning.”

Lucerne 2021 are set to receive the FISU flag from the Siberian city at the Closing Ceremony, where they will produce a cultural performance.

Beat Züsli, Lucerne City Council President, will attend the ceremony and accept the flag.

He is then expected to give a speech where he will invite delegations to attend the event in Switzerland in 2021.

Züsli is due to refer to the Lucerne 2021 motto "Welcome home", a refrence Switzerland as being the home of winter sport and where FISU is based.

The speech will take place at the end of Switzerland’s 10 minute performance towards the end of the Ceremony.

"We will take the audience on a playful journey from Siberia and to take Switzerland with you," Hunkeler said.

"We offer a visual and cultural foretaste of the Winter Universiade in our country."

Lucerne 2021 will be only the second time Switzerland will have staged the Universiade, following Villars hosting in 1962.