The bidding process for the 2027 Summer World University Games recently saw some updates. Last week, the International University Sports Federation (FISU), provided new updates to both North Carolina and South Korea bid committees on the decision making process for the 2027 games.
North Carolina faces stiff competition from South Korea who are also bidding to host the games in 2027. South Korea previously hosted it in 2015. There was discussion of a potential European bidder, but that is currently uncertain.
FISU originally planned to award both the winners of the 2027 and 2029 Summer Games bids in January 2023. However, they have shifted the decision-making process for the 2029 Games to a later date, electing to focus primarily on the 2027 Games. Now, the winner of the 2027 bid will be announced in October 2022.
Earlier in 2021, the United States International University Sports Federation (USIUSF) selected North Carolina’s Triangle to be the Host City Partner for the 2027 Games bid. South Korea announced their bid in summer 2021. The Triangle consists of the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill-Cary area.
The host area has now expanded to include Greensboro, citing the Greensboro Aquatic Center and Greensboro Coliseum as high-profile venues that have hosted many of the country’s biggest sporting events. In early 2021, the Greensboro Aquatic Center hosted both the men’s and women’s NCAA Division I Swimming and Diving National Championships. It also hosted the East site of the 2021 Speedo Summer Championships. Greensboro Coliseum is the largest indoor arena in the United States, boasting a seating capacity of over 23,500. It hosts the men’s and women’s ACC basketball tournaments as well.
The North Carolina Bid Committee recently added support from two professional sports teams and one sports facility in the area. North Carolina FC, who play in USL League One, and the NC Courage, who compete in the National Women’s Soccer League, recently became official sponsors. The Wake Competition Center, practice facility of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, also became a sponsor.
According to the North Carolina Bid Committee, these changes mean that the bid process has become a full fledged competition with South Korea since FISU is only focusing on the 2027 Games. It also means it has shifted from “a marathon bid process” into a “genuine sprint.”
The committee also posed a call-to-action to readers and the public, saying
In short, the first 9 months of 2022 are likely to be a frenzied, exciting, race to the finish, and our bid needs everyone’s help and support to make it to the winner’s circle.
More information about supporting the bid can be viewed here.
The World University Games, or Universiade, brings together the world’s top university athletes in a multi-sport event. The games take place every other year, with one in the summer and one in the winter. The 2021 Summer World University Games were postponed to summer 2022, and the 2021 Winter World University Games were cancelled due to the new COVID-19 variant.
Greensboro has got to be one of the least fun cities to have a meet at in the world. But I guess the coaches can go to “Mirage” between sessions
I’ve been to USMS Nationals there three times and had fun in the surrounding area each time, so I dunno.