Introducing the ten participants to the U-Media Ambassadors programme

With notepads in hand, microphones ready, and a passion for storytelling at their core, the U-Media Ambassadors are prepared to bring the 2025 FISU World University Games to life.

This summer, ten student journalists from across Europe will join the Organising Committee in North Rhine-Westphalia to report on the FISU Games — producing interviews, athlete profiles, daily reports, and feature stories that capture the competition and community behind the event. Through this Erasmus+ initiative, these young talents will be immersed in one of the largest multi-sport events in the world — right here in the heart of Europe, where sport and storytelling meet.

Participants of the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 U-Media Ambassadors programme:

Storytellers from the whole continent

While their academic paths may differ — from sociology and sports management to journalism and media production — what connects these ten U-Media Ambassadors is a shared passion for sports media and the stories that unfold beyond the scoreboard.

For Philipp Wohlfart, the U-Media programme brings together everything he’s passionate about: “sports, international exchange, and creative storytelling.” Düşlem Gökgöz, from Türkiye, says it best: “History is written many times in sports, but very few are lucky enough to witness it live — and even fewer get to tell those stories.”

Many of the Ambassadors are looking forward to the energy and international atmosphere of the Games. Valentina Rasini, from Italy, believes sport is “a powerful connector,” while Jonas Detrois is eager to share the athletes’ stories with a global audience. Irish participant Mary O’Sullivan finds inspiration in the fast pace of sports journalism and hopes to grow her confidence in telling impactful stories. And for Lara Zugck, the programme offers the perfect stage: “I am excited about the prospect of working alongside talented young journalists from around the world and growing in this inspiring environment!”

Continental program, global event

Meanwhile, Moawis Ahmed sees media as a tool for change, with the power to “influence public opinion and promote an active lifestyle.” And for Johanna Schröter, the joy lies in being part of something global: “What excites me most is the energy of people from all over the world coming together to celebrate sport.”

Closer to home, Srity Nanthakumar will bring a local perspective: “Born in Oberhausen, the Ruhr region is my home. Providing media coverage of the FISU Games will be a special honor for me.” As for Emilia Bruno, it’s all about being inspired by the fire and passion of the athletes themselves.

Whether they’re reporting from poolside or press tribunes, the U-Media Ambassadors will help capture the voices, moments, and stories that define the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games, from next 16 to 27 July.

U-Media: An educational project for student-reporters

U-Media is an Erasmus+ educational project for student reporters, photographers, and commentators, which is funded by the European Commission through the Erasmus+ Programme. The project attracts motivated students who are passionate about sports journalism, offering them access to a wealth of learning materials and expert lectures to support their preparation for practical assignments. The project consists of four major parts (U-Media Ambassadors, U-Media Expert Lectures, U-Media Student Newshub, U-Media Learning Hub), enthusiastically supported by a team of consortium partners (University of Porto (Portugal), as well as Hochschule der Medien Stuttgart (Germany), University of Tübingen (Germany), and the AWO Südwest gGmbH (T_OHR) (Germany). The project website with open-access learning materials has already been released and can be found here.