2019 Summer Universiade

Naples (ITA)

• 109 Nations participating
• 8509 Athletes participating
• 18 Sports

With this 30th edition of the Summer Universiade, FISU celebrated its 70th anniversary. The event was marked by passion and enthusiasm from the city of Napoli, making the event truly unique.

A lasting image from the artistic and musical Opening Ceremony of Napoli 2019 will be the spellbinding performance of arguably the best tenor in the world today – Andrea Bocelli, whose melodious voice enthralled the spectators and resonated in Stadio San Paolo as the clock struck midnight to mark the opening of the games.

One of the watershed moments of Napoli 2019 was certainly Indian sprinter Dutee Chand winning the women’s 100m dash. Indian sprinters rarely win medals at international meets, let alone gold. With this win, the Indian national record holder became the first Indian female track and field athlete in Universiade history to clinch a gold medal. The weight of her achievement was such that the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, took to Twitter to congratulate her.

Other highlights from Napoli 2019 included Zachary Apple and Gabrielle DeLoof’s respective five-gold hauls in the pool for the USA, and two-time Italian Olympian Carlotta Ferlito delighting the home crowd with her gold medal-winning floor routine.

A total of 24 Universiade records were broken in Napoli, while Japan and Russia finished joint top of the medal table.

Just hours before the Closing Ceremony, the host nation also closed out their medal campaign with gold in the men's waterpolo final. It was a perfect moment to cap off the fortnight, as a frenzied crowd celebrated with the athletes. 

More than 35,000 spectators attended the closing in a sold-out San Paolo Stadium. With an electric atmosphere, spectators paid tribute to the athletes and volunteers that made the games so unique. In his final address, FISU President Oleg Matytsin praised the athletes’ performances and their impact on future generations:

“Throughout Napoli and the Campania region, there are so many young Italians who have been inspired by what they have seen here. Now these young Italians, proud of their country and their national teams, want to wear the blue of Italy. In the same way, we hope they are inspired to go to university and make sport a vital part of their lives.”

With 300,000 tickets sold over the 12 days, Napoli has embraced the university sports movement and left a legacy that will benefit generations for many years to come. The renovation of many of the Universiade venues, including the Piscina Scandone and Mostra D'Oltremare, and the purpose-built fencing hall at the University of Salerno Sports Centre will continue to serve as world class facilities for the residents of the Campana region.

“It has been our great pleasure to host the world’s best university athletes in the Campana region,” Napoli 2019 Commissioner Gianluca Basile said. “We are proud to add the Summer Universiade to the long and prestigious list of major sporting events hosted by Italy.