LAUSANNE – Despite the ongoing global situation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, the German bid to host the 2025 Summer FISU World University Games moves ahead, surefootedly. A meeting was held on schedule, albeit virtually, between the FISU leadership, the FISU Summer Games department and all stakeholders in the German bid including the German University Sports Federation (adh) as well as representatives from the Rhein-Ruhr region and the Federal Ministry of the Interior.
Members of the Rhein-Ruhr 2025 bid committee on an earlier visit to Lausanne
“The meeting centred around their proposal regarding the candidature concept,” said FISU Secretary General-CEO Eric Saintrond. “It was an important meeting to ensure that the work continues. Representatives of all those involved were present.”
The candidature concept explained why the Rhein-Ruhr region was chosen; foremost among the reasons being the large number of universities that are home to the highest number of students in all of Germany.
The region also has extensive experience in hosting major sports events, including multiple World Championships, European Championships and also a FISU World University Championship.
Germany last hosted a World University Games, formerly known as the 
Universiade, in 1989, when Duisburg had held the 15th summer edition.
Duisburg is one of the primary centres in the venue concept that was presented at this meeting – with the other centres being Dusseldorf, Essen, Bochum and Krefeld. All venues will be within a 20km radius of each other and the major advantage in these centres is the existing infrastructure suited to high-level sports events.
According to the chairman of the adh board Jörg Förster, “the strategic objective of the Rhein-Ruhr 2025 bid is to have a national perception that the World University Games strike a balance between sport and education”.
The next steps towards the finalisation of the 2025 summer edition of the FISU World University Games will be the formal concept approval from governmental stakeholders in Germany and the development of the official bid book.
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