FISU leadership visit at North Carolina 2029 FISU World University Games

The delegation from the International University Sports Federation met key people, attended meetings and presentations, visited impressive sports facilities and didn’t miss the chance to watch two thrilling basketball matches.

A little over three months after joining FISU as Secretary General and CEO, Matthias Remund, together with FISU President, Leonz Eder, and FISU Director of Summer Games, Jing Zhao, visited North Carolina USA to meet with the North Carolina Organising Committee (NCOC) for the 2029 FISU World University Games to get introduced to the Local Organising Committee (LOC) and to check on progress towards the 2029 Games.

“To be among one of the first major international trips by the new FISU CEO to visit the host of the organisation’s largest event is quite an honour and speaks well of North Carolina, the U.S., and our Games Organising Committee,” said Hill Carrow (front right) Chairman & CEO of NCOC and the 2029 FISU World University Games. “We were impressed with Matthias. He has just become the head of one of the world’s largest sports organisations, and though only on the job for a few months, has hit the ground running with both a good grasp of the business side of a mega-event like the World University Games, but also forward-thinking plans regarding how to take both the Games, and FISU itself, to the next level.”

“To be among one of the first major international trips by the new FISU CEO to visit the host of the organisation’s largest event is quite an honour and speaks well of North Carolina, the U.S., and our Games Organising Committee,” said Hill Carrow, Chairman & CEO of NCOC and the 2029 FISU World University Games. “We were impressed with Matthias. He has just become the head of one of the world’s largest sports organisations, and though only on the job for a few months, has hit the ground running with both a good grasp of the business side of a mega-event like the World University Games, but also forward-thinking plans regarding how to take both the Games, and FISU itself, to the next level.”

The FISU leaders from Switzerland were joined by Delise O’Meally, an Orlando resident, who is a member of the FISU Executive Committee, and Dan Guerrero of Los Angeles, who serves as President of UniUSA, the United States member organisation of FISU.

Meeting North Carolina’s new governor, Josh Stein

One of the highlights of the trip was a chance for the FISU delegation to visit with North Carolina’s new governor, Josh Stein, at the Executive Mansion. Joining the Governor for the meeting were Secretary of State, Elaine Marshall; Jordan Whichard, Chief Deputy Secretary, and Mark Poole, Director of Commerce Finance, of the North Carolina Department of Commerce; and Christie McNeill, Deputy Chief of Staff and Chief Operating Officer in the Governor’s Office. Representing NCOC were Hill Carrow and Jen Keurulainen, Sports Director for the 2029 FISU World University Games.

“North Carolina’s university sports are so strong, that this is the ideal location in America for the FISU World University Games” FISU President Leonz Eder told the Governor. “With the more than 10,000 participants from around the world staying on, and competing and training at, local universities, it will mark a great return for the FISU Games to university campuses in 2029!” Governor Stein talked about his own love of sports, underscored the importance of the FISU World University Games to North Carolina, and emphasised the strength of the State’s support for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

March Madness at Lenovo Center

Another major highlight for the FISU Team was getting to experience March Madness at Lenovo Center where the First & Second Rounds of the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championships got underway on Friday, March 21. FISU Executives and guests attended the Baylor vs. Mississippi State game, followed by the Duke vs. Mount St. Mary’s game. The international visitors were quite impressed with the enthusiasm and number of the 19,000+ fans at Lenovo Center, as well as the quality of the venue, which will serve as one of the host venues for the 2029 FISU World University Games.

Rounding out the trip for the FISU Delegation were a number of progress reports and presentations at the LOC Headquarters offices in Cary; reviews of proposed FISU Games venues, housing, and dining facilities; walk-throughs of potential host hotels; and dining at several noteworthy restaurants. A VIP Reception for Team FISU was held at the new NAOS Restaurant in Cary, where famed restauranteur, Giorgio Bakatsias himself, welcomed everyone to the reception and a multi-course dinner that followed.

“North Carolina has what it takes”

Matthias Remund was laudatory about the visit and summarised FISU’s perspective this way: “We had the opportunity to view a number of outstanding venues, as well as dining and dorms in one of the FISU Games Villages. It was clear that North Carolina has what it takes to give us full confidence in the venues and accommodations departments. Budgets and finances are key to any major event and NC USA has early support from the State and several significant companies and organisations, and good ways to go towards meeting its financial goals for the event. We feel good about where things stand at this point, while realising much hard work over the next four and quarter years to the Games lies ahead. Importantly, we have a very good relationship with the North Carolina Organising Committee and look forward to working with them to ensure the major success of the FISU World University Games in July of 2029!”

About the North Carolina Organising Committee

Located in Cary, North Carolina, the North Carolina Organising Committee (NCOC) is the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the 2029 FISU World University Games. The LOC has the responsibility for planning, developing, and executing the 2029 Games in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill-Cary-Greensboro-High Point-Winston-Salem region of North Carolina. The NCOC is affiliated with, and supported by, the Triangle Sports Commission, which primarily serves Wake, Durham, and Orange Counties, but also hosts events in Guilford and Alamance Counties in North Carolina. The primary goals of the NCOC are to host one of the best FISU World University Games ever, with a great participant experience being the primary barometer; and to showcase North Carolina, and the communities and universities that comprise its central University Hub region, to the world. For more information on NCOC, visit www.ncusa2029wug.com

About the 2029 FISU World University Games

The 2029 FISU World University Games will include over 10,000 participants from 150 countries representing more than 600 universities competing in 18 Olympic sports over the course of 12 days during July of 2029 (July 11-22, 2029) at up to 40 venues stretching from Downtown Raleigh, NC, at the Raleigh Convention Center to the Lawrence Joes Coliseum in Winston-Salem, NC. The Games were awarded by FISU to North Carolina USA and will be centered in North Carolina’s University Hub region which includes the host communities of Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary, Elon, High Point, Greensboro, and Winston-Salem; the host counties of Wake, Durham, Orange, Alamance, Guilford, and Forsyth; and the following host institutions: Duke University, Durham Technical Community College, Elon University, High Point University, Meredith College, North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina Central University, North Carolina State University, Shaw University, St. Augustine’s University, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, University of North Carolina Greensboro, Wake Forest University, Wake Technical Community College, and William Peace University.