It’s the end of August and across the state of North Carolina university classes are back in session for the 2026-2027 school year. Freshmen are going through orientation, professors are welcoming new students to their classes, and seniors are starting to think about what comes next after graduation. We, at the headquarters of the 2029 World University Games, are thinking about how best to include, and showcase, these great universities in the 2029 Games. Read on to learn more about some of our plans.
Final Year of Preparations Begins for 2027 Summer World University Games
August 1 marked the One-Year-To-Go milestone for the 2027 World University Games to be held in the Republic of Korea’s ChungCheong Megacity — Daejeon, Sejong, Chungcheongbuk-do, and Chungcheongnam-do. The one-year countdown was marked in Daejeon with the “Great Challenge of Megacity Chungcheong! Chungcheong 2027 D-365 Countdown” event, attended by more than 500 stakeholders, prospective volunteers, citizens and media. The celebration also highlighted the Chungcheong 2027 FISU World Conference, to be hosted with Dankook University, as well as the Games’ emerging official-merchandise program.
A major recent milestone was the launch of the international entry process. On August 1, the Organizing Committee issued official invitations to all 164 FISU member countries and also contacted 28 non-member countries to gauge interest. Operational preparations underway include continuing construction of the Sejong FISU Games Village and nine new or renovated venues. FISU Chief Sports Officer Shen Zhen said Village construction was progressing faster than planned.
Volunteer recruitment also opened on August 1 and runs through December 31, 2026, with applicants able to apply online or through regional centers. The Organizing Committee has additionally selected four winning designs through its official-merchandise competition, with products expected to launch in the first half of 2027.
Tournament Town: North Carolina USA Games Hub
One of the city of Greensboro’s nicknames is Gate City, a name that derived from the time of arrival in Greensboro of train transportation in the 1850’s. By the end of the 1800’s Greensboro had numerous freight and passenger trains passing through town each day, and newspapers started referring to Greensboro as Gate City because of its new prominence – and growth – in serving as a key gateway to the American South and West.
This same nickname remains very applicable today when it comes to Greensboro’s role in the 2029 World University Games as the city will serve as the central hub of the Games. Greensboro is strategically located in the center of North Carolina’s Piedmont region which includes the state’s largest metro areas, and given the fact that the footprint of the Games stretches from Raleigh to Charlotte, Greensboro is situated nicely at the mid-point.
Greensboro is home to 6 colleges and universities, including Bennett College, Greensboro College, Guilford College, Guilford Technical Community College, North Carolina A&T State University, and the University of North Carolina Greensboro. Add to that the Elon University School of Law in Downtown Greensboro and you have an ideal Host City for a global event that features college and university athletes from around the world. In addition, Greensboro is the home of the Greensboro Coliseum Complex, the largest sports & entertainment complex in the southeastern United States.
With three significant local organizations supporting the city’s sports tourism efforts – the Greensboro Convention & Visitors Bureau, Greensboro Sports Council, and Greensboro Sports Foundation — Greensboro recently received worldwide attention for its premier sports hosting capabilities when Team Norway made Greensboro its home base for the 2026 World Cup. During its Greensboro stay, Norway, thanks to amazing performances by star, Erling Haaland, made history with its deepest run ever in the tournament. This was just one more feather in the cap of a community that prides itself on being known as Tournament Town USA.
As a result, Greensboro is positioned to host 8 sports of the Games including Athletics (Track & Field) at NC A&T State University; Artistic Gymnastics, Judo, Rhythmic Gymnastics, and Volleyball at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex; Diving and Swimming at the Greensboro Aquatic Center; and Table Tennis at the Koury Convention Center. In addition, the Games International Broadcast Center (IBC), Main Press Center (MPC), and Main Operations Center (MOC) will all be located at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex. With the Greensboro Sheraton, the largest hotel in North Carolina, serving as the Headquarters Hotel for the Games, Greensboro has all the pieces needed to serve as the center of the action at the 2029 World University Games.
Summer Fellows and Interns Head Back to Fall Classes
Earlier this month, 8 of our Class of 2026 Fellows and Interns left us to return to their respective universities. It was a full summer of excellent research, reports, off-site visits, meetings, milestone celebrations, event reviews, and even some fun adventures. Holly Copeland and Savannah Hameed, both Triangle Sports Business Fellows begin their senior years at UNC Chapel Hill and Elon University respectively. Summer Interns, Ryan Brannan (University of South Carolina), Trammell Frueauf (UNC Wilmington), and Blake Heilig (NC State University), are also starting their senior years; while Louisa Wendt will be a junior at UNC Chapel Hill. Alissa Corbut and Nick Seifert have both completed their degree programs at Peace University and will be transitioning into the business world. We congratulate all of our Fellows and Interns, thanking them for a great summer of work on the Games, and wishing them well in their future endeavors.
WUG2029 Education Program Collaboration with NC State University
Thanks to the leadership of Dr. Jan Bethea, NCSU Parks, Recreation & Tourism Professor, two sections of her Fall Semester Intro to Sports Management classes at NC State University, one of our WUG2029 Host Institutions, will spend this semester with a focus on the 2029 World University Games. During the first week of class, Andrew Blattner, Games Operations Manager, and Joel Davis, Development Manager, led an initial presentation and discussion on the Games as part of a semester-long project. The students will do a deep dive into the Games from an event management perspective — exploring everything from planning and operations to economic impact, international collaboration, and the challenges that come with bringing athletes, teams, and communities from around the world together.
Throughout the semester, students will work within different functional areas and tackle real-world scenarios inspired by the work required to deliver the 2029 Games. They will have the opportunity to think through the same types of challenges faced by event professionals, including coordination across departments, managing resources, working with diverse stakeholders, and finding solutions when everything doesn’t go according to plan.
WUG 2029 Sport Briefs
On August 8, 2026, the American Traditional Jujutsu Association (ATJA) Judo Championships were held in Wendell, North Carolina, led by 2029 World University Games Judo Sport Managers, Chris Collins and Carla Sinclair. The event, which included over 250 athletes, served as a test event for our Judo management team, and also a promotional opportunity for building awareness of the 2029 Games. Both Michael Conte, WUG2029 Sports Manager, and Andrew Perna, Social Media Coordinator, attended the event and manned an information table for WUG2029.
Ingrid Wicker-McCree, a 2029 World University Games Board Member, was announced last week as a Nike Lifetime Achievement Award Honoree by Women Leaders in Sports. She will receive her award at the 2026 Women Leaders in Sports National Convention in Chicago, October 12-14. Ingrid retired from North Carolina Central University in 2021 after serving as a coach and Athletic Director for over 30 years. She is also Immediate Past-Chair of the Durham Sports Commission.
Erika Braun, also a 2029 World University Games Board Member and a Masters Swimmer with the Raleigh Area Masters Swim Team, was part of 3 World-Record-Breaking 160-199 Relays, including the Women’s 200 Meter Free Relay, 400 Meter Free Relay, and 400 Meter Medley Relay.
The Winston-Salem Open, an ATP Tour 250 Tennis Tournament held at the University Tennis Complex at Wake Forest University, one of our WUG2029 Host Institutions, wrapped up this weekend with Ignacio Buse of Peru topping Arthur Fery of Great Britain 6-3, 6-2. The Winston-Salem Open is the final tune-up opportunity for players before the start of the U.S. Open this week in New York City.
The Durham Sports Commission has reported that the first season of the Carolina Blaze, Women’s Professional Softball Team that played at Smith Family Stadium at Duke University, also a WUG2029 Host Institution, had a positive economic impact on the community of over $5.9 million. Women’s Softball, to be held at Smith Stadium and Anderson Stadium at UNC Chapel Hill, will a featured sport of the 2029 World University Games, which will also mark only the second time in history that Softball has been in the World University Games.
Support the Games
Be a vital part of championing the world’s premier event for student-athletes! Bringing the 2029 World University Games to our state promises unparalleled economic advantages for our communities. Seize the chance to spotlight North Carolina on the global stage! Click below to explore the myriad of ways you can contribute and support the Games.
Don’t Forget to Shop Local and Support the WUG
Our online store features 2029 FISU World University Games t’s, polos, hoodies, tanks, caps, and more. Items come in a wide variety of colors, and the store has proven to be quite a popular online shopping destination. Don’t miss your opportunity to show your support of the 2029 FISU World University Games by snagging some excellent quality, name-brand clothing and caps!
Sponsor Thank You’s
We cannot thank our sponsors enough for their strong belief in, and generous support of, the 2029 World University Games. We encourage you to patronize their businesses and give them your own personal thanks when you do.
