Looking to Paris - and then to Rhine-Ruhr 2025

The long wait is over - the Olympic Summer Games begin this Friday in Paris. The German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) will be sending a strong team - 428 athletes will make up the largest team at the Games after the USA and the hosting nation France.

"We are looking forward to the Games with great anticipation," said Olaf Tabor, Chef de Mission of the German team in Paris, at the athletes' uniform distribution ceremony in Düsseldorf in the middle of July. "The city of love will now be the city of sport and I believe that the organisers in Paris have really done their utmost to stage first-class sporting event in iconic locations."

Tabor, who is Director of Competitive Sports at the DOSB, also has a long-standing personal connection with the FISU World University Games and elite student sport. From 2003 to 2012, he was General Secretary of the German University Sports Federation (adh). He is therefore very much looking forward to the return of the FISU Games to Germany next year from 16 to 27 July, when the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games will be held.

DOSB supports the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games

"They are one of the biggest multi-sport events in the world and are a great proof that Germany can do what we have always been able to do - namely organise great Games on a scale that is unique," said Tabor. "I have my roots in university sport and have taken part in many Universiades, as they were then called, both in summer and winter. I have always wished for something like this to happen again in Germany, and for it to happen next year is a great story.

Next year, Germany will be represented by a strong team at the FISU World University Games. The DOSB is supporting the organising committee with advice and assistance. A successful performance of the German team naturally has a significant impact on the public," says Tabor.

After all, there are a number of athletes who will be competing in Paris over the next two weeks who are also students and therefore would be eligible to compete at the FISU World University Games next year. Among them is decathlete Leo Neugebauer, who is believed to have good chances of claiming a gold medal in Paris.

Cover photo: © Paris 2024