18 summer sports experts from 15 countries just spent 15 days visiting the future North Carolina 2029 FISU World University Games venue sites. The visitors, headed by Jing Zhao, FISU Summer Games Director and including Brian Carrer, Senior Sports Manager; Josh Miethke, Sports Manager; and Lara Bernassi, Sports Manager from FISU side took part to site inspections, technical seminars, and individual sports meetings.
18 disciplines part of the event’s sport programme were represented:
- Maki Nakano of Japan (Archery)
- Vadim Nigmatov of Tijikistan (Athletics/)
- Steve Butcher of the United States (Artistic Gymnastics)
- Bastian Kruse of Germany (Badminton)
- Ulf Oehrman of Sweden (Basketball)
- Eric Brooker of Australia (Diving)
- Julius Kralic of Slovakia (Fencing)
- Maksims Raspopovs of Latvia (Football)
- Josef Zellweger of Switzerland (Rhythmic Gymnastics)
- Patrick Drid of Serbia (Judo)
- Deidre O’Sullivan of Ireland (Rugby Sevens)
- Tom Baster of Great Britain (Swimming)
- Andrzej Hrehorowicz of Poland (Table Tennis)
- Russell Ahn of the United States (Taekwondo)
- Nao Kawatei of Japan (Tennis)
- Melanie Sanford of Canada (Volleyball)
- Michael Goldenberg of the United States (Water Polo),
- Luc Vergoosen of the Netherlands (3×3 Wheelchair Basketball).
“The initial visit of the Technical Committee Chairs is an important milestone in the planning for, and development of, the FISU World University Games”, said Jing Zhao. “The TCCs are the technical experts in their respective sports, and they are able to share great knowledge and insights into the planning, setup, and operations of those sports leading into, and during, the FISU Games. They are able to work with the Local Organising Committee to determine the necessary venues and venue configurations to best deliver their sport at event-time. The extensive shared sport learnings, more than 3 years in advance, can greatly assist the event host in ensuring the most efficient and effective delivery of the sports of the 2029 FISU Games.”
Hill Carrow, Chairman & CEO of the North Carolina Organising Committee (NCOC) for the 2029 FISU World University Games said: “While it involves a great deal of work and tremendous support and cooperation among our venues, universities, local sport executives, and communities to host 22 senior sport executives from around the world on a dawn-to-dusk schedule for 15 days in a row, everyone pulled together extremely well and truly demonstrated the extensive assets, experience, and good ole Southern hospitality of Team North Carolina. This visit helps us get to about 90% certainty on our proposed venues for the FISU Games, which is significant progress at this stage in the preparations for the big event.”
FISU’s next visit is scheduled for November of 2026, at which time FISU executives are expecting to be accompanied by the TCC’s for Baseball and Softball.
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