It is the height of summer in the northern hemisphere, but the countdown continues to the Lake Placid 2023 World University Games Winter which start six months from today. Over 11 days from 12-22 January 2023, 2500 athletes, coaches, and officials from 50-plus countries will arrive to compete in 12 sports in the North Country region of New York State.

In these six months, venues will be finalised, volunteers recruited, media accredited, and delegations from around the world will confirm their travel plans for their athletes to have the lifetime thrill of representing their respective countries.

“With just six months to go we’re finalizing preparations for Lake Placid to once again host the world on an international stage,” said Ashley Walden, Lake Placid 2023 FISU World University Games’ Organizing Committee Chief Operating Officer. “We’re extremely grateful for the strong support from our partners at New York State and FISU, who are an integral part to the overall success of these Games.”

“We are excited that the FISU Games are just months away and I am happy to announce that preparations are well underway. I would like to thank the Organising Committee and FISU for their ongoing hard work and dedication. Without them, this event would not be possible. The coming months will be very important for putting on the final touches to ensure all is ready to welcome the world in January 2023,” Acting FISU President Leonz Eder added.

The world’s largest multi-sport winter competition outside of the Olympic Winter Games, the FISU Games include the nine compulsory sports of alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, curling, figure skating, freestyle and freeski, ice hockey, short track speed skating, and snowboarding. Hosts can also add up to three optional sports, which for Lake Placid will be speed skating, Nordic combined, and ski jumping.

Team selections for both ice hockey and curling have been completed marking another milestone leading up to 12 January. In women’s curling, defending champion Sweden will look for their second straight gold medal, while Australia will make its debut. For the men, Brazil will compete for the first time and Norway will seek its fourth straight podium finish and second straight gold in Lake Placid. A fourth gold medal is the aim for Canadian women in ice hockey, while the last nine men’s gold medals have been won by Russia or Canada, with the Canadians seeking to extend their streak of seven straight FISU Games with a medal. Czechia will make its first appearance in women’s ice hockey and Hungary returns in the men’s tournament for the second straight time.  

This is the second time the world’s student-athletes will come to Lake Placid in the winter as the area hosted the 1972 World University Games. Lake Placid also hosted the 1932 and 1980 Olympic Winter Games and athletes competing in January of 2023 will have the opportunity to do so at such historical venues as the James B. Sheffield Olympic Skating Rink, the Olympic Jumping Complex, and the Olympic Center which will host figure skating and ice hockey finals.

While elite level competition is the focus, the FISU Games also host educational and cultural events that provide the chance to share ideas about global university sport and create opportunities to grow cultural understanding.

“We’re excited to see the World University Games return to the United States in Lake Placid in six months. As they will be the first FISU Games since Napoli in 2019, it will be wonderful to see the world’s university athletes together again in January, and we know Lake Placid will be excellent hosts,” said FISU Secretary General and CEO Eric Saintrond.

With six months to go, the work continues, and excitement is building as the Lake Placid 2023 World University Games near. The summer sun currently fills the North Country region sky, but soon enough the winter snow and ice will welcome the world’s student-athletes to Lake Placid for a great 11 days of competition.

Written by Doug McLean