Berlin receives the Flame – Start of the Host City Tour!

The Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games have reached another milestone! The flame has arrived in the first Host City – along with the Host City plaque, which was presented to the Senate of Berlin.

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The flame relay for the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games has reached another stop: Berlin! After the ceremonial lighting of the flame in Turin – host city of the FISU World University Games Winter 2025 – the symbolic journey continued across Germany. Along its national route, the torch passed by numerous iconic landmarks and was carried by athletes, dedicated citizens, and prominent public figures.

In Berlin, the flame relay was organized by five universities: the Free University (FU), the Technical University (TU), the Berlin University of Applied Sciences (BHT), the University of Applied Sciences for Technology and Business (HTW), and the Humboldt University of Berlin. The relay passed by several iconic locations in the city.

Highlight at the Berlin Half Marathon

The flame relay reached its peak during the Berlin Half Marathon on April 6. Humboldt University took over the final leg, initially carried by Vice President Prof. Dr. Niels Pinkwart (HU). He handed the flame over to race walker and olympic participant Leo Köpp, who studies at the HU. At the finish line of the Half Marathon, Svea Thamsen, Student President of the General German University Sports Federation (adh), received the flame.

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Handover of the Host City Plaque to Berlin

At the end of the day, Thamsen presented the first Host City plaque as a token of recognition to Berlin and State Secretary Franziska Becker. Becker expressed her gratitude: “We’re looking forward to World University Games 2025! As a sports metropolis, Berlin is proud to be an important part of the second-largest multi-sport event after the Olympic Games. With our existing sports venues, we offer excellent conditions for sustainably organized world-class competitions and continue our series of sporting highlights – from the Special Olympics World Games 2023 and UEFA EURO 2024 to the Berlin Marathon and today’s half marathon, which welcomed more than 42,000 runners from 135 nations. We are especially excited to host around 2,000 athletes here in the capital as they compete in swimming, diving, and volleyball.”

Thamsen added: “By presenting the Host City plaque, we want to thank Berlin for its strong commitment to university sport. As the first stop on the Host City Tour, the capital sends a powerful message – one of diversity, sporting spirit, and student togetherness. The Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games are about more than just competition – they bring people together. And that’s exactly what we experienced here today.”

The flame will now continue its journey to North Rhine-Westphalia, where it will be received by Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst.