On the second day of his visit to Germany, FISU President Leonz Eder presented the first official venue plaque to Bochum Mayor Thomas Eiskirch.
The renovation of the ‘Lohrheidestadion’ and its surroundings, designated as the venue for the athletics competitions at the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games, is proceeding smoothly. Soon, athletes will be competing for medals in this revamped sporting jewel. It will showcase the pinnacle of athletic prowess.
To gain firsthand insight into the ongoing renovations at Lohrheidestadion, a FISU Delegation, led by President Leonz Eder, visited the construction site with the representatives of the city of Bochum. Standing on the historic eastern grandstand of Lohrheidestadion in Bochum-Wattenscheid and overlooking the impressive new main grandstand to the west, destined to be the focal point of the refurbished arena, the international delegation was impressed by the sports complex. “We are very proud to be able to host the athletics competitions here next year as an absolute highlight of the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games”, stated Leonz Eder.
Bochum Mayor Thomas Eiskirch is proud of the development around the Lohrheide. “Few regions in Germany are as enthusiastic and positively sports-crazy as the Ruhr area. The ‘Sportpark Lohrheide’ and the FISU World University Games are a perfect fit. The Lohrheidestadion will be the only sports facility in North Rhine-Westphalia where German outdoor athletics championships can be held from 2025 onwards – a fantastic unique feature. Bochum will become the top location for athletics.”
16,000 fans expected in July 2025
Nine months after the start of the renovation, the exactly 70 years-old Lohrheidestadion is already hardly recognizable. The stadium will seat more than 16,000 fans when the athletics competitions of the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games take place at the ‘Sportpark Lohrheide’ over a total of seven days next year. For this purpose, the city of Bochum is investing around 55 million euros, mostly funded through sports facility construction funds and urban development support from the state. The surrounding area of the stadium will also undergo extensive modernization with facilities including a hall, warm-up stadium, and artificial turf pitch.
Sustainability concept
Additionally, a sustainability concept has been put into place to help protect the climate and adapt to climate change. The stadium roofs will be equipped with photovoltaic systems with sufficient capacity for self-consumption. Geothermal energy as a renewable energy source is a cornerstone of a planned energy concept for heating and cooling. Overall, an environment in which 22-year-old high jumper from TV Wattenscheid 01 Luisa Deeken (TU Dortmund university) will also feel comfortable.
“My goal is, of course, to meet the qualification standards for the FISU World University Games and I will work towards that. The prospects here motivate all athletes in the club”, said Luisa Deeken, who attended the event with former decathlete Jürgen Hingsen.
FISU President Leonz Eder then presented Bochum Mayor Thomas Eiskirch with the first official plaque bearing the inscription: “Official Venue FISU World University Games.” In total, there will be 22 competition venues across the cities of Bochum, Duisburg, Düsseldorf, Essen, and Mülheim an der Ruhr during the Games next year.
Meetings in Essen the previous day
The FISU Delegation also held meetings and visits in Essen and Düsseldorf on 11 March
On 11 March, the FISU Delegation was present in another one of the host cities of the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games. President Leonz Eder, General Secretary Eric Saintrond as well as Summer Games Director Jing Zhao and her team held meetings with Niklas Boerger and Bernhard Schwank from the North Rhine-Westphalia Staatskanzlei as well as with the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 Organising Committee before visiting the Parliament building in Düsseldorf.
