Italy to lead the field at Napoli 2019 Summer Universiade

NAPLES, Italy – The size and shape of the delegations headed to Napoli for the 30^thSummer Universiade is beginning to emerge. It comes as no surprise that among the 9,300 or so athletes and delegates expected from 128 countries, the host country will have the largest delegation with 437 representatives, including athletes, coaches and officials.

The United States of America is next in line, with 371 delegates while Russia will not be far behind with 357. From the European continent, after those from Italy and Russia, the largest delegations will arrive from France with 258 delegates, Ukraine with 233 and Germany with 198.

All these numbers are still subject to change though, with the final entries deadline being 2 June 2019. However, it is already clear that Japan and China as usual, will lead the Asian contingent. With 352 delegates, Japan will field the largest number followed by China and Korea with 254 delegates each. Taipei, which hosted the last edition of the Summer Universiade in 2017, is scheduled to bring 236 delegates.

Sicily 1997 Summer UniversiadeA look at the expected numbers from South Asia and India will present the largest delegation with 135 people, then Sri Lanka with 72 and Indonesia with 64.

From South America, Mexico with 248 participants is the largest delegation, followed by Argentina with 238 and Brazil 152.

From Oceania, Australia brings one of the biggest delegations in the field, with 250 persons, followed by New Zealand with 65.

Canada too, is among the countries with the largest number of participants, with 272 and South Africa leads the count from Africa with 160 delegates. Other sizeable delegations expected in Naples are: Turkey with 110 participants, Saudi Arabia with 97 and Iran with 85.

On the other end of the spectrum, there as many as 20 countries that have 3 delegates each, including Bangladesh and the African archipelago state of São Tomé and Príncipe. Most of the delegations will arrive in Naples before or by 27 June, which is also the date of the official opening of the Athletes’ Village.

The 30th Summer Universiade is scheduled to be held in Naples and Campania from 3 to 14 July. The Summer Universiade is returning to Italy after 22 years, the last one being in Sicily in 1997. This is also the 60^thanniversary of the Universiade, with the first ever one being held in Turin in 1959.

The first edition of the Summer Universiade in Torino in 1959