Who else than the national team and Juventus’ former player Giorgio Chiellini to make sure that the event about to kick off reached everyone in Italy?
Even if a few competitions – like ice hockey, curling and snowboard – started a few days ago, the Torino 2025 FISU World University Games officially kicked off on 13 January with a superb opening ceremony in the none the less superb Inalpi Arena.
The evening offered a perfect mix of action – acrobatics, energetic dancing, plenty of fluorescent lights and effects and amazing acts by circus artists and magicians – and of poetry, with a little boy walking amongst all these acts with his pillow in his hand and a breath-taking piano act by Giovanni Allevi, one of Italy’s most renown artists.
Some of th opening ceremony highlights
The student-athletes from 54 nations carried their colours high, mobile phone in hand capturing the moment, some of them even offering the crowd the odd summersault or figure-skating mouvement. Delegations like Canada, Japan, The USA, Poland, Germany and the United Kingdom impressed by their numbers, but of course the house exploded when the Italians entered the Inalpi Arena.
An opening ceremony wouldn’t be complete without official moments, like Italian figure skating superstar Carolina Kostner beautifully carrying her country’s flag, speeches by Organising Committee President Alessandro Ciro Sciretti and FISU President Leonz Eder and the Minister for Sport of the Italian Republic Andrea Abodi officially declaring these FISU World University Games Winter open.
Torino 2025 FISU World University Games Organising Committee President Alessandro Ciro Sciretti.
International University Sports Federation President Leonz Eder.
The Minister for Sport of the Republic of Italy, Andrea Abodi.
The student-athletes also enjoyed the show from the stands, as artists from renowned institutions like the Cirque du Soleil performed in elegant white surroundings. And Magnus Utopia puzzled everyone with incredible magical tricks.
The evening ended with Italy and Juventus’ former superstar Giorgio Chiellini, who, as the last torchbearer “lit” a drone that turned the whole arena red before dutifully flying off to light the vasque in the historical heart of Torino where it will “burn” for the next ten days.
The take place from 13-23 January. Watch all the competitions live on . Click on the link to find the full schedule.
Written by Thérèse Courvoisier, pictures courtesy of the Organising Committee.
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