Romania will prepare a bidding dossier for the 2021 Summer Universiade

BUCHAREST – Today, 10 March, Romania officially announced the preparation of a bid to host the 2021 Summer Universiade. A press conference formalising the bid was held at 17h00 in the Aula Magna of the Faculty of Law of the University of Bucharest in the presence of Romanian President Klaus Johannis, FISU Secretary General/CEO Eric Saintrond, as well as representatives of the Romanian University Sports Association and the Association Vasile Tomoiagă.

FISU SG/CEO Eric SaintrondThe initiative is supported by President Klaus Johannis and many Romanian sport legends like Nadia Comaneci (gymnastics), Gabriela Szabo (athletics) (both Universiade champions), Simona Halep (tennis) and Andreea Raducan (gymnastics).
The Romanian President Klaus Johannis spoke in front of the Aula Magna packed with students. “An event of this scale will be beneficial for Romania both economically and socially. The Universiade will improve the image of our country and develop tourism. With this Universiade, large investments will also be made to the development of sport in Romania, which is more than necessary.”

“The Universiade will be used to develop the skills and professionalism of your future generations,” Eric Saintrond, FISU SG/CEO commented.

Previously, the 11^th Summer Universiade was held in Romania in 1981. These FISU games took place in Bucharest and gathered 2,930 student-athletes from 86 countries and nearly 200,000 spectators. Olympic Champion Comaneci starred in those FISU games winning five gold medals.

The proposed organisation of the Summer Universiade 2021 in Bucharest and Cluj will be presented by the Romanian University Sports Federation (FSSU) and must still be approved by the Romanian Government.

David Vandenplas, FISU Media Assistant