Torino: birthplace of the first Universiade, candidate for the next 2025 FISU World University Winter Games

The FISU World University Games expected to be held in Torino in 2025 will be the 7^th winter edition to take place in Italy. Previously held in Sestriere in 1966, Livigno in 1975, Belluno in 1985, Tarvisio in 2003, Torino in 2007 and Trentino in 2013, all these events were organised to a high standard on an international level.

Last week, the FISU Evaluation Committee paid another visit to Italy to inspect the ongoing preparations, this time back in Torino. The Evaluation Committee, comprised of the FISU Acting President Leonz Eder, the Secretary General-CEO Eric Saintrond and the FISU Games Winter Director Milan Augustin, met with the Candidature Committee and institutional authorities of the Piedmonte region. Led by Riccardo D’Elicio, CUS Torino President, the evaluation committee, along with Lorenzo Lentini, member of FISU’s Executive Committee and representative of Italy’s NUSF Centro Universitario Sportivo Italiano (CUSI), were able to have successful meetings with the President of Piedmont region Alberto Cirion and Councilor for Sports Fabrizio Ricca, the Mayor of Torino Chiara Appendino as well as the Mayors of the cities of Pinerolo, Torre Pellice, Pragelato and Bardonecchia.

“The history of FISU is inseparably linked to Torino,” said FISU Acting President Leonz Eder, “with the first Universiade held in 1959 and the memorable presidency of Primo Nebiolo. FISU owes a great debt of gratitude to Centro Universitario Sportivo (CUS) Torino, the Piedmont region and CUSI for their numerous and successful engagements as organisers of many FISU events including Universiades and FISU World University Championships.”

The encouraging support given to CUS Torino for this event is not only coming from FISU and its executive members, but also from within the country itself.

“I am very enthusiastic about the support given to Turin’s candidature by the political authorities at all levels and by the academic institutions,” expressed Riccardo D’Elicio, President of CUS Torino. “We have a very strong collaboration with CUSI and I am convinced that this candidature will be successful. This will be a great legacy for our region, city and worldwide academic sports community.”

Looking towards the future with optimism and inspiration is also a vision shared by the FISU Secretary General-CEO.

“Together with FISU, this city, the region and its exponents are looking not only to the past, but also to the near future,” Mr. Saintrond explained, “especially in these difficult times due to the pandemic, it is of great importance to offer the youth a perspective. The Torino 2025 FISU World University Games project is ideally suited for this purpose. As a lasting legacy, not only will new accommodation be built for the students, but an attractive concept will also hold out the prospect of great FISU World University Games for the students, which will combine sport, culture and education in an ideal way.”

After a successful technical inspection visit back in March, the FISU World University Games Winter department remains satisfied with the development of the event and the direction that the Torino 2025 FISU World University Games are taking.

“I am very satisfied with the bid especially from the technical and legacy point of view using existing sport venues and great experience of CUS Torino and volunteers around the games. This edition of the FISU World University Games will bring a lot of new projects on different levels,” said Milan Augustin, FISU Games Winter Director. “Hopefully, the support of the Mayor of Torino will be as impactful as Primo Nebiolo’s help during the first Torino 1959  Summer Universiade.”

The full report of FISU and the presentation of the Candidature Committee of Torino will be organised during an on-line Executive Committee meeting on 15 May 2021.