The torch is here: Bochum is looking forward to the world's largest sports festival

What a day! Music, cheers, ice cream for everyone - and a blazing torch that was carried throughout Bochum. The Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games celebrated their first big kick-off - and Bochum was right at the forefront as the host city.

A huge event - right across the city

It all started at the NRW sports schools - with students from Maria-Sibylla-Merian-Gesamtschule and Hellweg-Gymnasium, accompanied by teachers, Rhine-Ruhr 2025 ambassador Frieda Echterhoff (track and field athlete and Bochum native) and plenty of good humour. The torch, the symbol of the upcoming 2025 summer of sport, travelled across Bochum - past the German Mining Museum, the Jahrhunderthalle, right across the cityscape to Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB).

Great atmosphere at the town hall - music, ice cream & celebrities

The first big stop was at the town hall - and what a stop it was! An inclusive band from the Bochum music school created a live atmosphere. Frieda Echterhoff brought the torch to the stage, where it was handed over to Mayor Thomas Eiskirch. This was accompanied by the official Host City plaque for Bochum - presented by Sina Diekmann (Chief Sports Officer) and Niklas Börger (CEO Rhine-Ruhr 2025). A pretty proud moment for the city!

‘Cool’ gesture from the city: in bright sunshine, Bochum treated all the students taking part to an ice cream - just the thing for sunshine and sporting action.

By underground to the university - and a really strong finale

On the way to the Ruhr University Bochum (RUB), the torch was even allowed to travel one stop on the U35 underground. This meant that the legendary Campus Line was also part of the spectacle.

The grand finale awaited at the finish line at the RUB - including a closing party and prominent faces. Among others, Olympic champion Sonja Greinacher (3x3 basketball, former RUB student) and long-distance ace Jan Fitschen took part. Rector of the Ruhr University Bochum Prof. Dr. Martin Paul was also at the start and showed how much the university is looking forward to the upcoming games.

Bochum is ready - and showed today how hosting works

The torch relay was the perfect prelude to the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games. From 16 to 27 July 2025, things will get serious: over 8,500 student athletes from around 150 countries will come to the Ruhr region - and Bochum will be right in the middle of it all.

Not only 3x3 basketball and wheelchair basketball will be held here, but also the athletics competitions. The FISU World Conference and the Ruhr Games are also held here.

Photos: © Rhine-Ruhr 2025/Andrea Bowinkelmann