One Year To Go: New concept for Rhine-Ruhr 2025

The countdown is on! The Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games will start in 365 days - the world's largest multi-sport event will open next year on 16 July 2025. A new concept presented by the Organising Committee of the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games will ensure the FISU World University Games can be delivered within the negotiated financial framework next summer.

The reworked structure guarantees that all planned entertainment elements as well as all 18 sports can be delivered between 16 and 27 July 2025. The Rhine-Ruhr region and the whole of Germany can continue to look forward to an international sporting event with high-level student-athletes from all over the world.

As the additional costs of the event - which were solely due to inflationary price increases since the 2019 budget was drawn up and therefore beyond the control of the organising committee - could not be covered by public funds due to the current budgetary situation, a fundamental adjustment of the event concept was necessary to ensure that the event could be held as planned next year. CEO Niklas Börger and the Organising Committee have been working tirelessly on an alternative concept, which has been agreed with the German University Sports Federation (adh) organiser, and the two financial sponsors - the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the federal government - and approved by the International University Sports Federation (FISU). As a result, all competitions will take place, although some venues have been redistributed regionally for the core sports and individual programme items.

FISU Games in the heart of North-Rhine Westphalia

The Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games will now take place even closer together in the heart of North-Rhine Westphalia. The concept consolidates the venues and shortens transport routes significantly, using strong regional synergies. The majority of the events and competitions will take place in the cities of Bochum, Duisburg, Essen, and Mülheim an der Ruhr. By aligning the four Host Cities, it is now possible to deliver the FISU World University Games within the agreed conditions without sacrificing quality. The new distribution across the four host cities is complemented by existing sports infrastructure in Hagen. A further solution for swimming, volleyball and diving, also based on existing facilities and currently being finalised, will complete the new event concept for next year's multi-sport spectacular.

With the adoption of this new concept, the Organising Committee has succeeded in restoring a reliable planning basis for the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games. The announcement of the new concept is just the beginning - detailed information on the organisation of the event and the individual host cities will follow in the coming days.

The NRW state capital of Düsseldorf, which supports the new approach in the spirit of sport, will no longer be a venue of the FISU World University Games, but will continue to host important elements of the sports festival next year, such as the Welcome Centre at Düsseldorf Airport, the FISU Family Hotel, and the Organising Committee Head Office in the north of the city.

With this alternative concept, the highly motivated and experienced members of the Organising Committee, together with its partners, will deliver a diverse and international celebration of university sports.

Multi-sport event with international radiance

Between 16 and 27 July 2025, Germany will welcome thousands of student-athletes from all over the world to compete at the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games - the largest multi-sport event in the world next year. These FISU Games will set new standards for sustainability, inclusion, and human-rights compliance in the organisation of major sporting events in Germany – a priority of the National Strategy for Major Sporting Events.

“The Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games are a high-level sporting event of huge importance for international sporting associations,” Jörg Förster, Chair of the Management Board of adh, says. “They are important for Germany’s reputation as a dependable host of such events. And, thanks to the dedicated support of Bochum, Duisburg, Essen, Mülheim an der Ruhr and also Hagen, we are keeping all sports and all events on the programme. We would like to thank the state capital of Düsseldorf for its constructive cooperation in finding a pragmatic solution for organising the event in the interests of sport. National and international participants, guests and fans in the region can now look forward to enjoying the vast majority of the FISU Games in an even tighter radius of 40 kilometres between Duisburg and Bochum.”

FISU president Leonz Eder explains: “The reworked concept of the German Organising Committee of the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games adheres to all FISU regulations and our requirements regarding quality and scope. We are convinced that the event in Germany will live up to the great expectations.”

18 Sports - extensive programme

Host Cities

Partner City

Ongoing review of existing venues for hosting events