2020 may have been a challenging year, with many sports events cancelled or postponed, but the world has begun the New Year on a positive note and FISU is no different. There is much to look forward to in university sport, in 2021, and preparations are on track.
Here’s a quick glance at some of the highlights we expect from the year.
5. Continental Qualifiers for the FISU University World Cup Football
After resounding success in its inaugural edition in 2019, one of FISU’s newest and most exciting sports properties – the University World Cup Football – is all set for a bigger, better version 2.0 in 2022.
While we have to wait another year and a half before the main event is held in Jinjiang, People’s Republic of China, the continental qualifying tournaments will be held all through 2021, giving university teams around the world a chance to book that elusive spot in the world finals.
Watch out for the Qualifying Tournaments from May through to October, and stay updated on the schedule here.
4. FISU University World Cup 3×3
While we must wait till summer 2022 for the University World Cup Football, basketball enthusiasts can look forward to the same event this year.
The FISU University World Cup 3×3 event has become one of FISU’s most popular sports events and will return this year to its rightful home on the Huaqiao university campus.
This sixth edition will take place from 14-17 October 2021, in Xiamen, People’s Republic of China.
3. FISU Volunteer Leaders Academy – new, hybrid format!
The FISU Volunteer Leaders Academy (FVLA) is an educational event that serves as a key part of the international sports and volunteering movement. Held annually in the Summer Universiade city of Kazan, the event brings together more than 100 future leaders from countries around the world.
Due to the pandemic, the 2020 edition was successfully held virtually – making it the first official FISU event to be held entirely online. The enormous success and participation paved the way for the event to be held in both, online and offline formats, in 2021.
The introductory session will be held online from 19-20 June followed by the main session held onsite in Kazan, Russian Federation, from 8-14 September 2021.
2. Lucerne 2021… remains in 2021!
The Lucerne 2021 Winter Universiade was originally scheduled to take place in January 2021 but had to be postponed due to the pandemic. Thanks to cooperation and efforts between FISU, the Organising Committee and all other stakeholders including the International Federations of winter sports as well as the six host Cantons of Switzerland, the games were successfully postponed to 11-21 December 2021.
Thus, Lucerne 2021 remains in 2021, and the entire university sport community is looking forward to the next edition of FISU’s flagship multi-winter-sport event, not to mention the FISU World Conference on Innovation-Education-Sport that will take place alongside.
1. Chengdu 2021 FISU World University Games
Not only is it FISU’s biggest event, but the next summer edition of the FISU World University Games will also be FISU’s first event in 2021. Scheduled from 18-29 August 2021, the games will be held in Chengdu, People’s Republic of China.
The city of Chengdu is known as the home of the giant pandas, and people from all over the world will look to flock to this unique city, health and safety conditions permitting.
Preparations are on track for the games as well as the FISU World Conference that will take place alongside and the entire university sports community is keeping its fingers crossed for this, the flagship event of international university sport.
