FISU World Games in NRW: Krefeld's talents conquer the stage!

FISU World Games in NRW: Krefeld's talents conquer the stage!

A great spectacle is taking place in the heart of North Rhine-Westphalia: The FISU World University Games 2025! The best athletes from over 150 countries will show what they can do until July 27th. This huge multi-sport event, held every two years in summer and winter editions, promises exciting competitions in 18 sports. Around 9,000 athletes will take part, including many young talents and also some well-known names from the German Olympic squad, which is hosting the games under the banner of the International University Sports Federation (Fédération Internationale du Sport Universitaire, Fisu). Particularly noteworthy: It is the first time since 1989 that Germany will act as host again.

The last edition took place in Duisburg, but now the region has the chance to present its advantages again. The event is not only dedicated to top sporting performances, but also to the discussion about current challenges in competitive sports.

Important topics on the agenda

The FISU World Conference 2025, which will take place parallel to the games from July 17th to 19th, will be dedicated to important topics at the intersection of performance, mental health and environmental sustainability under the motto “Competing for Change: Exploring Sustainability and (Mental) Health through Sports”.

• Mental Health und Leistungsdruck: Hier stehen die Herausforderungen im Fokus, denen Athleten und Trainer gegenüberstehen.
• Work-Life-Balance im Profisport: Diskutiert werden die spezifischen Belastungen für Hochleistungssportler und deren Umfeld.
• Nachhaltigkeitsinitiativen: Lösungen, die an Universitäten und darüber hinaus eine Rolle spielen, werden in den Mittelpunkt gestellt.
• Ganzheitliche Gesundheit: Ein integrativer Ansatz, der die Lebensqualität und das Wohlbefinden im Sport fördern soll.

The event attracts a wide range of participants: students, academic researchers, sports officials and of course the athletes taking part in the games. Together, the conference aims to develop strategies that not only improve athletic performance, but also promote sustainable practices.

Participants and perspectives

Around 300 participants from more than 40 countries are expected, including young researchers interested in the FISU Young Researcher Award can qualify. With a tradition spanning over 60 years, the FISU World Conference not only strives to promote exchanges on research and sport, but also to provide a platform for emerging academic talents.

These Games and the accompanying conference are an excellent opportunity to highlight the importance of exercise and mental health in a rapidly changing world. While the athletes fight for medals, a valuable discussion about the challenges and solutions in sport takes place in the background, which will have an impact beyond the event days.

For Cologne and the entire region, this is not just a sporting event, but also an opportunity to address important social issues and work towards making communities healthier and more balanced.