Source: ABC11, Associated Press
North Carolina was awarded the right to host some of the top collegiate athletes in the world. The University World games will be coming here in the summer of 2029. The International University Sports Federation awarded North Carolina to hold the summer games during a meeting in Lake Placid, New York.
The federation panel visited North Carolina this past September and met with Gov. Roy Cooper. The original bid was for North Carolina to host the games in 2027 but lost out to South Korea. North Carolina has more than 130 colleges, universities, and community colleges statewide.
Governor Cooper and state leaders pitched during their bid highlighting its university hub of Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary and Greensboro. The federation President Leonz Eder was very impressed with North Carolina’s proposal during the visit and wanted to ensure there was a way for North Carolina to host future games.
“We have worked diligently with our membership and staff since then on the best way to secure North Carolina USA as a future host,” Eder said.
The world summer games will host over 7,000 athletes between the ages of 18-25. Over 600 universities from around the world will be represented along with over 150 countries. The two-week event will feature 15 sports including swimming, track and field, basketball and optional sports proposed by local hosts. Now everyone knows we love some basketball around here. I’m sure by then visitors from all over the world will truly enjoy what North Carolina has to offer.
Click here to read more about the games.
