January 10, 2023 | at the FISU Summer University World Games
Leonz Eder, Hill Carrow, Dan Guerrero, and Eric SaintrondThe Executive Committee of the International University Sports Federation (FISU) voted today to confirm the selection of North Carolina USA to host the 2029 FISU World University Games.
The FISU Executive Committee meets in Lake Placid ahead of the start of the 2023 FISU World University Games, which will be held in Lake Placid and the Adirondack region from January 12 to 22, 2023 – the first time a FISU World University Games has been held in the United States in 51 years. years. Lake Placid previously hosted in 1972.
FISU President Leonz Eder said, “We have been impressed with what North Carolina has to offer the FISU World University Games from our site visits, their candidacy documentation and presentation to our Executive Committee in conjunction with their original 2027 bid. Even though North Carolina was unsuccessful in bidding for the 2027 FISU Games last fall, and since then we have been working diligently with our members and staff on the best way to secure North Carolina USA as the future host of the FISU World University Games. It is important for our national university sports federations that we offer them as much confidence as possible for the future and we are grateful for this opportunity.”
North Carolina USA brought a significant delegation to Lake Placid to attend the FISU Executive Committee meeting and signing ceremony, including Elaine Marshall, North Carolina Secretary of State; Brenda Howerton, Chair of the Durham County Board of Commissioners; Brian Ralph, President of William Peace University; Richard Beard, president and CEO of the Greensboro Sports Foundation, and Dragomir Cioroslan, director of international strategy and development at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee.
Secretary Marshall, representing the state of North Carolina, said: “This is a very proud moment in the history of our North Carolina. The FISU World University Games will be the largest event ever held in our state, and will give us a unique opportunity not only to host athletes and fans from over 150 countries, but also to showcase North Carolina, including our renowned universities and so on. our great state has more than 400 million people around the world to offer!”
The FISU World University Summer Games had only been held once before in the United States, in 1993 in Buffalo, New York. North Carolina joins the prestigious list of future hosts: Chengdu (China) later this year, Rhein-Ruhr (Germany) in 2025 and Chungcheong Megacity (Korea) in 2027.
On behalf of the United States International University Sports Federation (USIUSF), American FISU member Dan Guerrero, president of the USIUSF, said: “This is a great milestone in the history of college sports in the United States. Building on the excitement of the FISU World University Games Winter starting here in Lake Placid this week, the FISU World University Games Summer 2029 in North Carolina will take over the presence and awareness of international college sports in the United States of America, the number one global college sports market, for higher level!”
North Carolina’s bid to host the FISU World University Games is centered in central North Carolina, a region stretching from Raleigh to Greensboro, encompassing the Triangle and Triad state areas. The region includes 19 colleges and universities with over 250,000 students, and has been designated North Carolina University Center.
Accepting the FISU Games award on behalf of North Carolina, Hill Carrow, Chairman and CEO of the North Carolina Bid Committee, said: “An annual effort of over 1,000 people, 13 universities, 5 cities, 5 counties, the state of North Carolina and 53 corporate and organizational sponsors to organize it’s an amazing event. As an event featuring top athletes from around the world, it is a natural fit for a state home to 130 colleges and more than 350,000 students. Landing these Games in North Carolina is similar to a major corporate relocation, as FISU Games will generate a local economic impact of over $150 million, but with the added benefits of significant international tourism and worldwide brand exposure for our state and local communities. We thank FISU for choosing North Carolina USA as the official host of the 2029 FISU World University Games, and we look forward to working with the FISU family to deliver the most successful 2029 Games!”
