Top 10 FISU events to look forward to in 2020

7 March 2020. Mark the date on your calendars because that’s when the 2020 international university sports season kicks off. In an action-packed year with around 30 World University Championships and Cups to look forward to, we tell you the top ten events to tune your alerts to.

10. WUC Rugby Sevens in La Plata, Argentina

We’re really excited about the 2020 World University Rugby Sevens Championship that will be held in La Plata, Argentina from 17-19 September 2020. Not only because Rugby Sevens always makes for an interesting event, but because Argentina is hosting a FISU Championship for the first time and Federación del Deporte Universitario Argentino (FeDUA) promises to make it a cracker.  

9. WUC Cross Country in Marrakech, Morocco

Let’s look at the top of the calendar though, because Morocco is also new to the FISU hosting family and will stage the 2020 World University Cross-Country Championship in Marrakech, starting 7 March. We cannot wait for the confluence of sport, culture and exotic North African charm.

8. The FISU Forum 2020 in Budapest, Hungary

Seventy years and still going strong – that’s FISU and that’s also the main theme of the next FISU Forum that will be held in Budapest, from 12-16 August. The next edition of the FISU Forum will focus on how FISU can sustain the legacy of the university sports movement and work towards more inclusion in university sport. An important, not-to-be-missed event.

7. Double originality at Dnipro, Ukraine

There’s double news at the Waterski & Wakeboard Championship that will be held in Dnipro, Ukraine from 24-27 September 2020: Firstly, Ukraine is also a new host city for FISU and secondly, while Waterski Championships have been held before, next year will be the first edition where Wakeboard will make its entrance into the FISU World University Championships programme.

6. The FISU Volunteer Leaders Academy in Kazan, Russia

From 10-16 June some of the keenest young minds from universities around the world will convene in Kazan, for the fourth edition of the FISU Volunteer Leaders Academy. The FVLA is an educational event that is a key part of the international sports volunteering movement. At the academy, emerging sport management leaders participate in lectures, roundtable discussions and networking opportunities to develop their knowledge and competence in the management of volunteers at sport events.

5. Presentation of the Lucerne 2021 mascot

The World University Winter Games Lucerne 2021 are slated to be held from 21-31 January 2021. And with exactly one year to go, the Lucerne Organising Committee will unveil the mascot of the games, designed by a student-artist from the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. In fact, four students’ designs have already been shortlisted and a jury will select one of the proposals that will be presented to the public on 21 January 2020, exactly one year before the opening ceremony.

4. WUC Sailing in Campione del Garda, Italy

Next year’s World University Sailing Championship may just set the bar very high. Slated to be held from 30 June to 4 July 2020, the championship will be staged at a venue that is truly world class, with several Olympic national sailing teams training there regularly. The event will also be special because of the format – a mixed regatta with two men and two women making up the four-person crew. More power to gender equality!

3. WUC Canoe Sprint in Minsk, Belarus

Another upcoming Championship that can already boast of an excellent venue is Canoe Sprint, which will be held in Minsk from 21-23 August 2020. Thanks to the recently held European Games, Minsk is teeming with brand new, top-line sports facilities and the canoe venue is no different. Our Technical Committee Chair Zeljko Rajkovic said the organisation could be at best-in-the-business level.

Hungary’s Viktor Viola in the 2018 WUC Canoe Sprint 500m finals 

2. WUC Beach Volleyball in Málaga, Spain

One of FISU’s most popular Championships, Beach Volleyball moves to southern Spain in 2020 and the setting could not be more perfect. From 23-27 June 2020, beach volleyball enthusiasts will zoom in on the city that is known as the gateway to the Costa de Sol. Sun, sand and surf… what more could one want for the Beach Volleyball Championship?

1. The University World Cup 3×3 in Xiamen, China

The world’s best university-based 3×3 ballers will head to Xiamen for an astounding sixth year in a row for the 2020 edition of the FISU University World Cup 3×3. The pathbreaking tournament, which is played out in a university-versus-university format has quickly grown to become one of FISU’s most popular events and by the sixth year running, Xiamen has perfected the art of hosting it.