German State bags FISU sporting extravaganza

Article posted by Coliseum, June 14^th, 2021

Image: Land NRW/Andrea Borwinkelmann

The inspection visit of the International University Sports Federation (FISU) team took place in the Rhine-Ruhr region which lies in the North Rhine-Westphalia State of Germany – from May 5^th to 7^th, 2021 as a prelude to the award of the 2025 FISU World University Games to the State. Following the visit, it was decided to award the sporting extravaganza to North Rhine-Westphalia.

The FISU World University Games, which were previously known as Universiade, organized for university athletes, will take place in two large European countries – Italy and Germany – in 2025.

The decision to award the FISU Games to Germany was made at a meeting of the FISU Executive Committee on May 15^th, 2021 at Düsseldorf (Germany).

Apply for membership

The ‘Allgemeiner Deutscher Hochschulsportverband’ stated that representatives of FISU, the General German University Sports Association and the State Chancellery of North Rhine-Westphalia visited the participating municipalities of Bochum, Duisburg, Düsseldorf, Essen and Mülheim an der Ruhr. The municipal representatives took the visiting team around the sports facilities and hotels, among other things, so that they could get a clear picture of the potential host region and whether it boasted the infrastructure to hold this prestigious university games.

The International University Sports Federation (FISU) is responsible for the organisation and governance of worldwide sports competitions for student-athletes between the ages of 17 and 28.

The winter edition will be held in Turin, Italy, while during summer Germany’s North Rhine-Westphalia, the region of the Rhine-Ruhr, will be the host of the FISU World University Games which will welcome around 10,000 athletes from 170 countries of the world.

‘Allgemeiner Deutscher Hochschulsportverband’ further stated that the focus of the three-day visit was also full-length deliberations on the concept of the above sporting event. The General German University Sports Association has developed the concept over the past two years in close cooperation with the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Home Affairs, the State Chancellery of North Rhine-Westphalia, the FISU, and the municipalities of Bochum, Duisburg, Düsseldorf, Essen, and Mülheim an der Ruhr.

Allgemeiner Deutscher Hochschulsportverband (ADH) CEO Jörg Förster stated, “With the visit of the inspection team, and us getting the go-ahead to host the sporting spectacle, we have crossed another important milestone and finally the nod to host the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU Games. Thanks to the great support of our partners, the FISU was able to give detailed insights into the sports and cultural region of Rhine-Ruhr and also discussed the challenges which will come in the way of organizing the sporting showpiece, especially keeping in mind the COVID-19 seesaw situation the world over. We are all set to host the 2025 FISU Games in North Rhine-Westphalia.”

The Acting FISU President, Leonz Eder, added, “We were totally convinced and impressed with the concept developed by the German team and decided to award the FISU Games to Germany to be held in the Rhine-Ruhr region. The spirit and the enthusiasm of the German team was palpable and their determination to make the 2025 FISU Games an outstanding experience for students from all over the globe and for the people of North Rhine-Westphalia and all of Germany. Hence, we decided to grant the FISU Games to them.”

Around 10,000 athletes and officials from 170 countries will meet in the Rhine-Ruhr region in July 2025 and compete in 18 sports over 12 days. Apart from sports, the students will also hold detailed discussions on topics related to Science.

Fifteen sports will be played in the summer edition of the FISU Games – badminton, basketball, archery, fencing, gymnastics, judo, athletics, rhythmic gymnastics, swimming, taekwondo, tennis, table tennis, volleyball, water polo, and diving. The optional sports – 3×3 basketball, beach volleyball and rowing will complement the program of the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games. There are also plans to integrate individual parasport events into the program.

For the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games, hubs are being planned at the two main clusters – Messe Düsseldorf and Messe Essen – which will serve as event and logistics centers.

The event concept provides for the use of a total of 21 sports facilities at established locations and in the exhibition areas in Bochum, Duisburg, Düsseldorf, Essen, and Mülheim an der Ruhr. The existing or temporary sports facilities are within a 25-kilometer radius and are connected by a dense transport network that enables a compact, modern and, in particular, sustainable event concept.

‘erudera College News’ stated that Germany’s Minister of Interior, Horst Seehofer, said he is optimistic that the student world games will be an “unforgettable sporting event”.

The FISU World University Games are held every two years, in winter and summer, by the International University Sports Federation – the Fédération Internationale du Sport Universitaire (FISU).

‘erudera College News’ quoted the Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, Armin Laschet, as stating that the authorities of the region are looking forward to welcoming athletes from countries of the world to the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games, highlighting that North Rhine-Westphalia is the number one sporting State and the place for top-class international competitions.

Students of the age of 25 or above who have been nominated by their national associations will be eligible to participate in the FISU World University Games.

These games will be held in Germany for the first time after 1989 and are the world’s largest multisport event after the Olympics and Paralympics.

Continue to follow Coliseum for latest updates on venues business news. Coliseum is dedicated towards building the best global community of sports and entertainment venue executives and professionals creating better and more profitable venues.

Become a member of the only Global Sports Venue Alliance and connect with stadiums, arenas and experts from around the world. Apply for membership at coliseum-online.com/alliance and make use of the 365Coliseum Business.

Watch 250 member-exclusive videos with valuable tips for your venue