The excitement continues from Paris with the Opening Ceremonies marking the beginning of the 2024 Paralympic Games yesterday. In this edition of the 2029 FISU World University Games eNews Update, we will focus on a Paris Summer Olympic Games retrospective, with an eye on events and processes at the Games that could benefit the World University Games here in North Carolina USA in 2029.
2024 Paris Summer Olympics – A Review
By Hill Carrow, WUG2029 Chair & CEO
The competitive events of the Paris Olympics extended over a 17-day period, and I attended the Games for approximately a week that included the middle weekend of the Games. This was my fourteenth Olympic Games, and it certainly rated among the best, if not the best, of all in which I have been involved. Attending and taking notes on the Paris Games was intentional, considering that here in central North Carolina we are hosting the world’s second-largest global Olympic multisport event (behind only the summer Olympics) in 2029 – the FISU World University Games – which are considered by many to be the “Olympics” for college and university athletes from around the world.
So here are my Top 10 major takeaways from the Paris Games that represent good benchmarks or best practices for the North Carolina USA World University Games:
- Attendance: Every venue was full or certainly appeared to be for every competition, even preliminary rounds. And Paris featured very large venues, so the crowds were quite large everywhere. There is no doubt that athletes appreciated the turnout.
- Fan Attitudes: Universally, at every venue, and even on the streets in cafes watching the television broadcast, the fans were so enthusiastic. And that enthusiasm surely translated into best performances by the athletes and the positive buzz and atmosphere that pervaded the entire footprint of the 2024 Olympic Games.
- Fan Loyalty: No matter which teams were competing, no matter where the venue was located, no matter what time of day or how hot it was wherever the event was held, the fans cheered for all competitors and teams throughout. There was no booing or cat calls, only positive reinforcement for the competitors. If only every athletic contest, including in our country, were like that!
- Transportation: The extensive transportation system in Paris with the Metro and commuter rail worked extremely well and brought fans to within a short 10 to 25-minute walk to every venue.
- Ticketing: I have been attending or working at Olympic Games for over 40 years and Paris had by far the best and most egalitarian ticketing system in the history of recent Olympic Games. Instead of the previous monopolistic system where fans could only obtain tickets through a single broker in their respective home country, Paris delivered an online system available to everyone around the world. Tickets were not that hard to obtain and were not all that expensive compared to the prices for major concerts and events these days.
- Apps: The Paris Games had 3 essential apps that were required to navigate the Games. The Ticketing app, the Transport app, and the Olympic app. The first two are self-explanatory and the third app provided continuously updated information about the Games. These apps were easy to navigate and provided a great user experience – including important notices if there was a last-minute change affecting some aspect of the Games.
- Champions Plaza: This free area in the Trocadero across the river from the Eiffel Tower brought the Medals Plaza concept of the Winter Olympics to the Summer Games.
- Fan Sites: Prior Games sometimes had a central gathering spot where fans could watch big screens, enjoy entertainment, and take advantage of local food and beverage options. Paris had over 100 of these!
- Hospitality: For the first time ever at an Olympic Games, the average person could pay extra and get a VIP Hospitality experience, at a venue, or even at a well-known destination (such as the Eiffel Tower) without even having a ticket to the Games!
City as a Venue: Probably no other city on the planet can match Paris’ attractions, but the manner in which Paris went all-in to literally transform the city itself into one giant, scenic, venue for the Games—for example, Beach Volleyball under the Eiffel Tower or Urban Sports in La Concorde – was amazing and enhanced the Games experience tremendously.
UniUSA and WUG2029 at the FISU World Forum, Zagreb, Croatia
The FISU World Forum is held every two years, in the even year, and this year’s event has been taking place all this week in Zagreb, Croatia, with over 200 delegates from 48 countries. The Forum brings together students, officials, and key partners involved in the University Sports Movement together with FISU Member Associations for the exchange of ideas and best practices. The Forum features a combination of academic, cultural, educational, and sports activities.
Representing the United States and the 2029 FISU World University Games are Lori Thomas, Secretary General of UniUSA, the U.S. governing body for international university sports in our country; together with Samantha Silver a student at Bushnell University and Anthony Carranza, a student at Ohio University. The U.S. reps staffed a booth about university sports in the U.S., and Lori presented an update on the 2029 World University Games in North Carolina to the delegates.
Left to right: Lori Thomas; Leonz Eder, FISU President; Samantha Silver; and Anthony Carranza.
Meet the 2029 World University Staff
The 2029 FISU Games is still in start-up mode, so the staff is still small at this point but has accomplished a great deal already. Staff members include:
Jen Keurulainen, Sports Director, has been involved in national and international sports events for 25 years including serving on the organizing committee of the Youth Olympic Games and Special Olympics World Games. She was previously based in Singapore where she managed facilities for Global Spectrum, and most recently served as Senior Manager, Games and Competition, for Special Olympics North America. Jen graduated from Mount Union College and also attended the International Olympic Academy.
Mary Elizabeth Bender is a Duke graduate where she competed on the Varsity Soccer Team, and later received her MBA from Pepperdine University. Mary Elizabeth was at Pendo prior to joining the 2029 World University Games team as Partnerships Manager. In that role, Mary Elizabeth helps recruit, negotiate, and add new corporate partners to the WUG2029 Team.
Michael Conte, 2029 World University Games Sports Manager, serves in a support role in Games sports and operations. Michael is a graduate of East Carolina University and grew up in Burlington, NC.
The three staff members, Jen, Mary Elizabeth, and Michael now reside in Raleigh.
Interns
We also want to give a shoutout to our Summer Interns, Reagan Canady of UNC Chapel Hill, Foster Crenshaw of William Peace University, and Jasmine Parker of NC State University. All three did an outstanding job and were major contributors to the work of the 2029 World University Games this summer.
WUG2029 Interns at Top Golf on 2024 Internship Final Day. Left to right: Michael Conte, Hill Carrow, Reagan Canady, Jasmine Parker, and Foster Crenshaw
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.