Bratislava welcomes world’s best for University Sport Climbing Championships

BRATISLAVA, June 20, 2018 – Today marks the start of the World University Sport Climbing Championships in Bratislava, where the world’s best student climbers will take on Slovakia’s highest climbing wall!

From 20-23 June, approximately 150 competitors from 26 countries will compete in the Slovakian capital, hoping to secure the title of world’s best university climber. Bratislava won the bid to host the event in December 2015, and have been working hard to ensure a world class competition ever since.

The main site of the Climbing Championships will be K2, the only climbing wall in Slovakia suitable for elite speed climbing competition. A big overhang dominates the wall, making it extremely challenging for even the most experienced climbers. Measuring 2000m² with a maximum height of 15.5m, perpendicular and overhanging sections will create technical difficulties for all competitors.

“This wall fulfils the criteria we had in mind, particularly the difficulty and speed,” Organisation Committee President Peter Hamaj said. “Each wall needs to reach the official parameters regarding slope and length. There are rules also for the position of the holds which shape is specific for this kind of climbing.”

Sport Climbing participants from China and Chile during the opening ceremony at the World University Championship taking place in Bratislava, Slovakia 

Entry to the event will be free of charge, creating an opportunity for all to witness first class sport. Some competitions will also take place also on the square in front of the Eurovea shopping centre. This is the same venue that Bratislava will celebrate Olympic Day on 22 June, with various competitions for children, attractions, introduction of Olympic sports, and athletes signing autographs.

As one of the five new sports at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games, there is no doubt that sport climbing is in the spotlight. The sport is growing in popularity all over the world, and this year marks the second edition of the World University Sport Climbing Championship.

 The Polish delegation walks into the competition arena during the opening ceremony of the FISU World University Sport Climbing Championship

Ahead of the event, Július Dubovský, President of the Slovak University Sports Association said:

“We are delighted that we can show off this sport in Slovakia before it takes place at the Olympics for the very first time. These championship will be unique; this extreme sport is not very traditional, yet it attracts more and more attention among its fans.”