COVID pushes back Chengdu FISU games to 2023

Image: Chengdu 2021

The World University Games in Chengdu (Sichuan, China) have been postponed until 2023.

With COVID-19 continuing to clobber China, health and safety concerns regarding the fatal respiratory disease were reportedly the reason for the postponement, with doubts over the Games coming following numerous lockdowns in several major Chinese Cities, including Shanghai. The 2022 Asian Games, scheduled for Hangzhou, China, were also postponed recently.

The ‘Swimming World’ stated that the International University Sports Federation (FISU) Games had initially been scheduled for the Summer of 2021, but were rescheduled because of the postponement of the Tokyo Olympic Games from 2020 to 2021.

The World University Games is an international multisport event organized for university athletes by the International University Sports Federation (FISU).

Lausanne (Switzerland)-based the International University Sports Federation (FISU) is responsible for the organization and governance of worldwide sports competitions for student-athletes between the ages of 17 and 25.

Remarked the Acting FISU President, Leonz Eder, “The decision to reschedule Chengdu 2021 is not one that was made easily, but it is the right decision for university athletes. Their welfare is always our number one priority. Continued uncertainty over conditions has made rescheduling the sensible choice – a number of National University Sports Federations had already changed their plans. Taking a team to the FISU World University Games is a great responsibility and FISU is confident that this decision will enable the greatest possible number of university athletes to attend next year.”

The ‘Swimming World’ further stated that the Summer Games will still take place in Chengdu and the 2023 Winter Games are scheduled for Lake Placid (Village in New York State, US).

Added Eder, “FISU is looking forward to moving back to the rhythm that has proven very successful to date, of having FISU World University Championships one year and then FISU World University Games. This is only possible thanks to the commitment and dedication of all of our hosts around the world, to whom FISU remains deeply grateful. The Chengdu Organizing Committee has made great efforts for the preparatory work since its successful bid. FISU thanks the Chengdu Organizing Committee for its hard work.”

The FISU World University Games are staged every two years in a different City. This celebration of international university sports and culture draws many thousands of student-athletes together to compete, making it among the world’s largest and most prestigious multisport events.

The 2023 Summer Universiade, the XXXI Summer World University Games, commonly known as the Chengdu 2023 FISU World University Games, is a multisport event sanctioned by the International University Sports Federation, scheduled to be held from August 12^th to August 25^th, 2023 in Chengdu, Sichuan, China.

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