The Torino 2025 FISU World University Games officially came to an end on Thursday, 23 January. And while there were still three medal events taking place on the final day of the biennial multisports competition, FISU officials and representatives from the organising committee, Torino and Piemonte region praised this year’s Games at the closing press conference in Archivio Di Stato, in Piazza Castello.
“If you have seen the men’s ice hockey final on Wednesday, this was exactly what it’s all about. We saw so many moments of energy, adrenalin, emotions. Not only in the ice rink, but also in the mountains, like cross-country skiing or alpine skiing, everywhere. This is the spirit of university sport, thank you to the organising committee for creating this,” said FISU President Leonz Eder to open the closing conference.
“We had approximately five years to create these moments. Tonight or tomorrow we’ll start to cry, we will all be sad, because this wonderful experience will be coming to an end. But these Games have a great future and so do our student-athletes. I would like to congratulate them, because they are the heart of FISU,” President Leonz Eder continued.
“The athletes are doing a great job by combining studies and sport, both on a high level. The dual career is fantastic, and they are the best ambassadors for us. Also thank you to all the organisers for giving them the platform to shine all over the world, not just in Italy.”
The 2006 Olympic city, alongside satellite sites Bardonecchia, Pragelato, Sestriere, Pinerolo and Torre Pellice, was hosting the FISU Games Winter for the second time, after 2007. Student-athletes competed in 11 sports for 96 sets of medals and, for the first time, para-sports were included in the programme, specifically para-alpine skiing and para-cross-country skiing.
“As a president of the organising committee your day starts at 7 a.m. and ends at 2 a.m. the next day. Nonetheless it was a very exciting experience. When meeting heads of delegations you expect many problems, but then they thank you for solving their problems and it’s nice. I am very grateful to our staff and volunteers, every time we faced a problem, they did their best to solve it,” said Alessandro Ciro Sciretti.
“The opening ceremony was an exciting moment. However, when I was awarding medals to athletes and five minutes later also to para-athletes and thinking we are doing this important innovation for the first time, is a moment I will never forget,” he added.
Matthias Remund, FISU Secretary General and CEO, said the Games were near perfect. “I think we could live in this city with its culture and sport. They did a great job. Competitions were on a high level. I can assure you these memories will stay with me for a long time!”
The Games were enjoyable for the student-athletes as well. “Having such a huge international event on my doorstep was amazing. It was great that my family and parents were watching me at a high level, but almost in my hometown. A lot of athletes also said how much they love Piemonte and don’t want to go home,” said Italian curler Francesco Vigliani.
Compatriot Nathalie Bernard, gold medallist in women’s ski cross, still can’t believe she’s a FISU Games champion. “This were my first FISU Games. They were very important for me, luckily, they were really satisfying. I’ve learned the value of friendships too, because I competed towards the end but had to arrive early, and I was warmly welcomed by everyone.”
And ski orienteering double bronze medallist Delia Giezendanner added with a shy smile: “This was my first multisport event and speaking in front of so many journalists is also a first for me! I am learning something new every day!”
The Torino 2025 FISU World University Games took place from 13-23 January. Watch all the replays on fisu.tv.
Written by Nejc Molan, FISU Young Reporter, Slovenia
The Young Reporters Programme exemplifies FISU’s commitment to more than sports competitions. At every FISU World University Games, a group of talented aspiring sports journalists are chosen to cover the competition.
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.