3×3 Basketball, Beach Volleyball and Rowing confirmed as optional sports for a possible Rhine-Ruhr 2025 Summer Universiade
Following an extensive coordination process, the German University Sports Federation (adh) has decided the sports programme for its bid for the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 Summer Universiade.
Based on a selection procedure which took seven indicators into consideration as well as a checkback with the federations concerned in spring 2020 plus a subsequent consultation with the International University Sports Federation FISU, 3×3 basketball, beach volleyball and rowing have been selected as optional sports for the planned major event in five years’ time.
Rowing – Foto: DRV/Seyb
All three complement the sports programme of the fifteen compulsory sports specified by FISU: archery, artistic gymnastics, athletics, badminton, basketball, diving, fencing, judo, rhythmic gymnastics, swimming, taekwondo, table tennis, tennis, volleyball and water polo.
Boxing, cycling, equestrian, golf, handball, hockey, karate, sport climbing, shooting, triathlon and ultimate frisbee had also been candidates for optional sports.
“We did not make the decision easily, especially as we examined interesting options to attractively enrich the traditional Universiade portfolio. Nevertheless, we are very satisfied with our picks and are looking forward to a colourful sports programme in 2025 that will inspire many people,” explains adh Chairman of the board Jörg Förster.
Beach Volleyball – Foto: Andre Görschel
adh had also coordinated the decision on the optional sports with the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community (BMI) as well as the State Chancellery of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Representatives of the selected sports federations were pleased with the decision.
Ingo Weiss, President of the German Basketball Association (DBB), said: “I can only welcome the decision to include 3×3 basketball in the programme of the Universiade 2025. 3×3 fits perfectly as it is young, urban, attractive and colourful. The spectators of the Universiade, which will hopefully take place in the Rhine-Ruhr region in 2025, will be thrilled. I am quite sure that 3×3 will not only create a lot of positive emotions at the Olympics, but also at the Universiade. I am looking forward to that.”
3×3 Basketball Tour 2019 Frankfurt Foto: Sven Kuczera, DBB/ING
Niclas Hildebrand, Sports Director Beach Volleyball of the German Volleyball Federation (DVV), underlines: “We are very happy that beach volleyball has been included in the programme of the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 Summer Universiade as an optional sport. It is another big step for the sport, which will therefore get its big appearance at the so-called ’little sister’ of the Olympic Games in Germany. We have proven in recent years that beach volleyball inspires the masses at major events in Germany, and we are delighted that the sport will be offered another big stage in five years’ time. With the inclusion of beach volleyball, we will be represented with two disciplines of our sport in 2025, as volleyball is basically an integral part of the Universiade. Therefore, the entire German volleyball community and its federation are looking forward to the University Sports Festival in the Rhine-Ruhr region with great anticipation.”
Siegfried Kaidel, Chairman of the German Rowing Federation (DRV), is also delighted with the decision that has been made: “We are honoured that rowing has been selected as one of three optional sports for the Universiade 2025. It is another important step for rowing and its position in society. I am especially happy for all the athletes who will have the opportunity to participate in the Games.”
Jörg Förster, Chairman of the adh board – Foto: adh/Kraus
As things stand, up to 8,000 student athletes from around 170 countries are expected to compete in 18 different sports at sports venues in Bochum, Düsseldorf, Duisburg, Essen and Mülheim over a period of twelve days. 2,000 officials will complement the delegations expected in the Rhine-Ruhr region in five years’ time.
FISU’s decision to attribute the 33rd World University Games is expected for spring 2021.
Further information can be found in the linked map.