North Carolina, in the United States, was the site over the last week of the technical evaluation visit for the 2027 FISU World University Games Summer. The Triangle Region, consisting of Raleigh, Durham, Cary, and Chapel Hill, along with the Greensboro area would come together to host the FISU Games should the bid be successful. Home to many prestigious universities, this area is a hotbed for university sport, teams, and athletes, and joins Chungcheong Megacity, in the Republic of Korea, as the two candidates for the 2027 FISU Games Summer, the latter of which held its technical visit in July.

As part of the inspection, FISU’s Summer Games Team visited 32 existing potential competition venues and back up options, as well as potential locations for opening and closing ceremonies, FISU’s headquarters, and FISU Games villages. The closing meeting concluded the technical visit and provided bid leaders the opportunity to present their concept and hosting plan while receiving feedback direct from the FISU team to further support North Carolina’s planning.

FISU Games Summer Director Jing Zhao spoke of what she and the team witnessed. “What has impressed me is the number of venues that could be available for the Games and the quality of the venues and proximity of the venues. And the passion of the people for sport. We were impressed by the proximity of the universities but also the university atmosphere with its youth and passion, and the level of international students.”

Seeking to host the FISU Games Summer in the United States for only the second time, joining Buffalo back in 1993, Hill Carrow, Chairman and CEO of the North Carolina Bid Committee, said, “I feel like we’re very sports-capable in terms of major events in this area. When it comes to staging the event, I think we’re really well-equipped for that.” The Lake Placid 2023 FISU World University Games Winter will take place in the United States this upcoming January.

With the evaluation visits complete, the final decision is in the hands of FISU’s Executive Committee which, in November in Brussels, will select the host for the 2027 FISU Games Summer. The winner will join Chengdu, China, host the of the FISU Games in the summer of 2023, and Rhine-Ruhr in Germany which will welcome the world’s student-athletes in the summer of 2025.

Written by Doug McLean (with files from Chip Alexander, Raleigh News & Observer)