The upcoming FISU Games Summer in July in Germany will provide important impetus for networking at the interface between sport, education and inclusion.
The Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games are setting new standards for sustainability and long-term impact in international university sport. This was impressively underlined at a press event in the Tieranatomisches Theater at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Under the motto ‘Legacy and Sustainability’, high-ranking representatives from politics, sport and science spoke about the long-term positive effects of the Games in Germany, university sport, and society.
The Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games will be held from 16 to 27 July 2025 in six cities, including the German capital, Berlin. With its existing first-class sports facilities, Berlin offers ideal conditions for the sustainable and effective staging of the swimming, diving and volleyball competitions. In the capital alone, around 2,000 athletes will be competing for medals.
Anchoring participation and sustainability in the long term
“Germany can organise sustainable and innovative major sporting events,” State Secretary Juliane Seifert said. “In recent years, we have organised a number of major sporting events under a common strategic umbrella. The Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games are confidently continuing along this path: with a focus on social sustainability by combining sport, education, inclusion and diversity, with the use of existing or temporary sports facilities, a creative supra-regional concept, with economic integrity and considerable efforts to reduce the ecological footprint.”
“The bold sustainability goals and standards show that the organisers of the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World
University Games are aware of their responsibility. We are looking forward to the FISU World University Games in Germany and want to continue to position ourselves as an outstanding and reliable organiser of major sporting events with a view to the Olympic bid.”
The sporting framework conditions are also designed to be sustainable, according to Christian Hochgrebe,
State Secretary for the Interior of the State of Berlin. “With its existing sports facilities, the sports metropolis
of Berlin offers optimal conditions for organising games at the highest level. The close cooperation for the
Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games will create a supra-regional sustainability effect. We are building on our diverse experience with major events such as the UEFA EURO 2024, the Special Olympics World Games 2023 and the Berlin Marathon. We are now continuing their successful sustainability concepts.”
Niklas Börger, the CEO of the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games Organising Committee, emphasised the importance of sport as a driver for sustainable development: “Sport is not just a competition,
but a catalyst for sustainable development, and the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games are the best proof of this. We have anchored what we are implementing in our pre-Games paper and FISU will use it as a basis for future events. We have set a new benchmark with the pre-Games paper.”
Former swimmer, FISU World University Games gold medallist and double Olympic champion, Britta Steffen, highlighted the responsibility of major sporting events to deliver a sustainable society: “Sustainability must be an integral part of sport and social development. Major sporting events such as Rhine-Ruhr 2025 have a responsibility to promote not only sport, but also sustainable developments in society. This includes long-lasting structures and an inclusive sports culture. The FISU World University Games have always been an excellent combination of top-class sport and science.”
Contributing to the national strategy for major sporting events in Germany
The Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU Games are sending a strong signal for the future of international university sport
and at the same time making a valuable contribution to the national strategy for major sporting events in
Germany. With a clear focus on sustainable developments in sport, infrastructure and society, the FISU Games are creating a blueprint for future sporting events.
Related News
The numbers behind FISU’s progress towards gender equality
Cult band Deichkind to headline the Closing Ceremony in Duisburg
GoTriangle unveils first-ever wrapped buses to celebrate North Carolina 2029 FISU World University Games Summer
