North Carolina will host the 2029 World University Games, according to announcement on Tuesday, Jan. 10 from the executive committee of the International University Sports Federation (FISU).

North Carolina had bid on the 2027 World University Games, but the effort lost out to South Korea.  The World University Games are the world’s largest event for student athletes, ages 18-25, and is second only to the Olympic Games in terms of global Olympic multi-sport competitions.

The bid from North Carolina involved a lot of regional cooperation with Greensboro, Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and Cary all working together.

Chairman and CEO of the North Carolina Bid Committee Hill Carrow said in the press release, “The award of the 2029 FISU World University Games to our state and country is the culmination of an extensive 5-year effort by more than 1,000 individuals, 13 universities, 5 cities, 5 counties, the state of North Carolina, and 53 corporate and organizational sponsors to land this amazing event. As an event that features the best collegiate athletes from around the world, it is a natural fit for a state with 130 colleges and universities and more than 350,000 university students. North Carolina’s landing these Games is similar to a major corporate relocation as the FISU Games will deliver a local economic impact of over $150 million, but with the added benefits of significant international tourism and worldwide branding exposure for our state and local communities.”

The FISU executive committee is currently meeting at Lake Placid, New York, the site of the 2023 FISU World University Winter Games, and North Carolina sent an impressive delegation to the meeting that included North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall and President and CEO of the Greensboro Sports Foundation Richard Beard.

In the press release, President of FISU Leonz Eder said, “We were impressed with what North Carolina has to offer the FISU Games from our site visits, their candidature dossiers, and the presentation to our Executive Committee in conjunction with their original bid for the 2027 FISU World University Games.  The North Carolina USA Bid in fact, scored the highest on our staff technical evaluation bids.  Even though North Carolina did not win the 2027 FISU Games last fall, we have worked diligently with our membership and staff since that time on the best way to secure North Carolina USA as a future host of the FISU Games.”

 

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