The FISU World University Games opened on Wednesday evening with a solemn ceremony.
In the MSV Duisburg stadium, Federal Minister of Labor Bärbel BAS (SPD) spoke the opening formula at 10:04 p.m., followed by fireworks above the arena.
Several local artists provided musical accents. The organization committee in advance emphasized the goal of creating a “festival ambience” at the games. This is to be created, for example, by many music acts or leisure activities.
The multisport event brings about 8,500 athletes from 153 nations to the Rhein -Ruhr region by July 27th – and to the German capital. In addition to Duisburg, Bochum, Essen, Mülheim an der Ruhr and Hagen, the competitions also rise in Berlin. The capital jumped into the breach after the NRW state capital of Düsseldorf had backed up last year for cost reasons.
The German “Team Studi” represents more than 300 athletes and is accompanied by 177, prominent German starter are, among others, 3×3 Olympic champion Elisa Mevius (University of Oregon/USA), the third place of the Paralympics in 3×3 Rollstuhlbasketball Thomas Reier (University of Cologne), the Olympic Margarita Kolosov (Rhythmic sports gymnastics/university Stuttgart) or the former European gymnastics champion Emma Malewski (TU Chemnitz). A total of 18 Olympic and a Paralympic sport of medals are awarded.
Politics also see good advertising for a German Olympic application in the games. “We like to host large sporting events-whether football, handball or basketball. But 8,500 athletes at a multisport event is special. This is the biggest sporting event outside the Olympic Games. We show what we can do and give a piece of business card-perhaps for an Olympic application,” said NRW Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst (CDU) in the WDR.
Germany wants to apply to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for the summer games 2036, 2040 or 2044. North Rhine-Westphalia and Berlin, as well as Munich and Hamburg, submitted corresponding concepts at the German Olympic Sports Association (DOSB) at the end of May. In the second half of 2026, the sports roof association wants to determine the campaign with which Germany is applying to the IOC.