Elite sport at the highest level - Rhine-Ruhr 2025 kick off with official Opening Press Conference

Today saw the official launch of the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games with a celebratory press conference at Messe Essen. For twelve days, starting on 16 July, the Rhine-Ruhr region will set the stage for more than 9,200 participants from more than 150 nations. Never before have summer editions of FISU Games seen this many participants.

The press conference highlighted yet again how much anticipation there is in the region for this extraordinary sporting event. The FISU Games offer a stage for young talents from all over the world to highlight their sporting excellence. Many of the participating athletes are already among the best in the world in their discipline and often go on to Olympic careers. 305 athletes from Germany are set to compete in the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games; the largest German team in the history of the FISU Games to date.

Inclusion, sustainability, and diversity are at the heart of the Games. These values come to life thanks to initiatives such as 3x3 wheelchair basketball competitions or the commitment of over 10,000 volunteers.

After the press conference, the organizers invited attendees on a tour of Messe Essen, offering an exclusive look behind the scenes into areas like the Delegation Lounge or the Medical Center. The table tennis competition area was a major highlight of the tour, where Minister of State Dr. Christiane Schenderlein and Minister President Hendrik Wüst played a brief rally with the German athletes Sophia Klee and Matthias Danzer. A moment with symbolic power: approachable, dynamic and in the spirit of the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games.

A summer of connection and movement

"I am delighted that the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games are finally starting after years of tireless commitment. The organizing committee, with over 600 employees and freelancers, deserves our recognition and respect. They have stayed on course in overcoming a huge challenge: The games take place at six locations in two federal states, expecting 150 delegations and over 9,200 participants from around the world. The FISU Games will be a festival of international university sports, science, and communities in the Rhine-Ruhr region and in Berlin. We will show that we can host high-class international events sustainably, innovatively, inclusively - all while bringing joy and excitement. I wish our 305 German athletes and 177 supervisors of Team Studi, the historically largest German student national team in the upcoming competitions, all the best. They now own the stage. I will keep my fingers crossed. I would like to thank everyone involved, the adh and the federal states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Berlin for their trusting cooperation", said Dr. Christiane Schenderlein, Minister of State for Sport and Volunteering.

"The sports state North Rhine-Westphalia is ready. In terms of sport and organisation, we are all in!", said Hendrik Wüst, Minister President of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia. “The Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games are a fantastic opportunity to showcase our region as a cosmopolitan, powerful and dedicated region in the centre of Europe. This is where great achievements come together with science, arts, and culture. We are looking forward to sport at the highest level in modern, sustainably used venues full of moral fibre. North Rhine-Westphalia proves once again: Major sporting events at the highest level are at home here. It sends a strong message with regards to a bid for hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games. I am convinced that the people of North Rhine-Westphalia will be enthusiastic hosts in the stands, in the streets and in the many moments when sport and community come together."

Jörg Förster, Chair of the Board of the General German University Sports Association: "We are incredibly proud to start with the largest German team of all time. This not only shows the growing importance of highest-level student sports in Germany, but also the close and successful cooperation between all parties involved. The Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games provide a stage for our athletes to balance athletic excellence with their academic careers. They leave behind a lasting impetus for university sport in Germany."

Niklas Börger puts the focus on the organisation and implementation of the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games: "After years of intensive preparation, we are now ready to show the world what this region has to offer: Passion and community, way beyond sports. The Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games are the result of great teamwork and an impressive joint effort. We have created an event that not only sets sporting standards, but also sends a strong social message of community, diversity, and sustainability. Now, we reap the rewards. Twelve days full of emotions, sporting excellence and international exchange."

Karla Borger, former beach volleyball Olympian and chair of the board of trustees of the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games, also spoke about the importance of the FISU Games: "This event is more than a competition. It has a unique spirit, a combination of performance, openness and connection."

Rhine-Ruhr 2025: The sports festival in the summer of 2025

The Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games show what is possible when sport, science, involvement, and society come together. A celebration of sport for athletes, fans, volunteers, and the entire region. The Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games represent unity, diversity, and the path to a sustainable sporting future.

The next twelve days will see emotional highlights, international connections, and impressive sporting achievements. The world gathers at the Rhine and Ruhr - the region is ready for an extraordinary summer story.

Photos: © Andrea Bowinkelmann