Earlier this year FISU, the organization that runs global university sport and the World University Games, announced that the 2021 summer edition of the games would be postponed until 2022. Now, the organization has come out with the competition’s new dates, with the event set to take place between June 26th and July 7th of 2022. Despite the postponement, Games will still be referred to as the 2021 World University Games.
The World University Games are slated to take place in Chengdu, China. FISU Acting President Leonz Eder had to stay of the postponement and the new dates:
“I am glad we were able to find a suitable date for next year. The Chengdu 2021 FISU World University Games Organizing committee was ready and operational for the launch of the games this year, but given the current restrictions due to the global pandemic, it was jointly decided that it would be best to postpone the event until a further time when we would be able to conduct the FISU games in the best sports and social conditions.”
Both the summer and winter editions of the Games have been rescheduled multiple times due to the pandemic. Prior to postponing the summer edition until 2022, the Games start date was postponed two days due to conflict with the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The winter edition was also moved back nearly a year, from January of 2021 to December.
The World University Games, or the Universiade as it is known outside of the United States, has been running the summer edition of the Games since 1959. The Games take place every two years, with a summer and winter edition taking place several months apart. The Games are the largest athletic competition for university-aged athletes and have had participant numbers that eclipse that of even the Olympic Games.
At the most recent Games, Japan and Russia tied for the highest medal count, both finishing with 82. The United States came in third, with 53 total medals and 21 gold medals. Of the United States medals, 19 gold and 40 overall came from swimmers.
The World University Games next year will kick off less than a month after the conclusion of the World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan. The World Championships are currently scheduled to run from May 13-29.
Have swimmers already qualified for this meet? Or when will the qualifying meet take place?
I have been following these Games for a very long time. So many developing talents get their first real experiences of international competition at the Universiade – glad to see it is only delayed, not postponed!