Athletes continue to arrive for Lake Placid 2023 FISU World University Games

The colourful uniforms of Japan, Ukraine, Korea, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Canada, and others that have been seen around Lake Placid, set the mood in the area as snow fell this morning and final preparations continue for the start of the Lake Placid 2023 FISU World University Games.

The Opening Ceremony, featuring the first ever LED light torch and cauldron, will get events officially underway 12 January at 19:00 Lake Placid time.

In walking around, what is now noticeable is the many athletes and officials that have already arrived in Lake Placid and the North Country. Delegations from many corners of the world, including Estonia, Australia, Mongolia, Poland, Brazil, and Argentina, are among the 25 of the expected 46 countries that have to date arrived with members of their delegation. 192 universities are represented so far among those that have picked up their credentials.

Competition actually gets underway on 11 January in Canton and Potsdam as women’s and men’s preliminary ice hockey will get going. Hungary and Slovakia in men’s hockey will be the first event of the Lake Placid 2023 FISU Games with an opening faceoff in their Pool B game scheduled for 13:00 at Cheel Arena in Potsdam at 13:00 local time. Two more games on the men’s side will follow with Great Britain taking on host United States, also in Pool B action, while in Pool A Japan will go up against Latvia. In women’s competition Great Britain and Czechia will faceoff followed by Slovakia versus defending silver medalist Canada, both at Maxcy Hall, also in Potsdam.

The pageantry, energy and excitement of international sports is felt in a very unique way when seen live. For those in the region, or coming to Lake Placid and the North Country, tickets are available for each of the 12 sports and ceremonies through www.lakeplacid2023.com. In the seats, spectators will see the talent, skill and passion of some of the world’s top student-athletes.

Athletes? Yes (and more on the way). Snow? On the ground (and ideally more coming). The pieces continue to come together for what will be an outstanding celebration of university sport over the next two weeks.

Around the world and throughout the Lake Placid 2023 FISU World University Games, competition can be watched live at FISU.tv. In the United States coverage will be available on ESPNU, ESPN, and streamed on ESPN+, and in Canada, subject to final scheduling, TSN will have coverage on its on its broadcast and streaming platforms.

Written by Doug McLean

We warmly thank FISU Official Partner Qiaodan Ltd. which provides remarkable uniforms to FISU Family and International Technical Officials since 2015. Qiaodan is a valuable partner for FISU as it continued to provide its support during the postponement of events due to the global pandemic, and recently extended the relationship with FISU up to and including 2025.