December 23, 2021
Tis the season and we are delighted to be sending our holiday wishes your way. We realize the holidays are a busy time for everyone, and it has been no different for North Carolina’s bid for the 2027 Summer World University Games. Read on to learn about the latest exciting developments.
We are delighted to welcome all of our new recipients of this monthly eNews Update who are receiving this newsletter because of their involvement in college and university sports in North Carolina. Our state is on a quest to host what many have called the “Olympics of college and university sports” in 2027, and you can help us land the big event.
More Bid Race Details Emerge and Timeline Tightens
In Zoom discussions last week with senior management of the International University Sports Federation (FISU), FISU provided the latest updates on the bid process, including a new timeline for the process. FISU indicated that the bid from South Korea remains focused on 2027, similar to that of North Carolina. There was mention of a potential third bidder from Europe, though there is uncertainty as to whether that will actually happen. FISU had previously indicated that it planned to award both 2027 and 2029 Summer Games bids together at the Winter World University Games in January 2023 in Lake Placid, NY. FISU has now shifted the 2029 award process to a later date and will focus on the 2027 Summer World University Games process. In doing so, FISU also indicated it has shortened the timeframe to reach a decision on the 2027 announcement. FISU is compressing the bid process by approximately 25%, shaving 3 months off the process, so the winner of the 2027 Games will now be announced in October 2022.
What are the most important implications of these changes? 1) Competition: The quest for the 2027 Games has definitely become a competition, as the potential collaborative approach that could have awarded the 2027 Games to one bidder and the 2029 Games to the other bidder is now off the table, 2) Sprint: What had previously been mostly a marathon bid process (keep in mind that North Carolina started work on becoming the United States nominee for the bid in 2018), has now been turned into a genuine sprint. In short, the first 9 months of 2022 are likely to be a frenzied, exciting, race to the finish, and our bid needs everyone’s help and support to make it to the winner’s circle.
Still Time to Make a 2021 Donation to the WUG Bid
Looking for a worthy charity for a donation prior to the end of the calendar year? You can make your contribution AND help bolster our state’s 2027 World University Games bid by donating to the Triangle Sports Commission, a 501(c)(3) organization. (The North Carolina Bid Committee for the World University Games is a committee of the Triangle Sports Commission.) It’s easy to make an individual or even a corporate commitment by clicking here and selecting the amount of your contribution. If you are considering corporate support and would prefer a different method than contributing online, you can either mail a check (made payable to Triangle Sports Commission) to North Carolina Bid Committee, c/o Triangle Sports Commission, 401 Harrison Oaks Blvd, Ste. 210, Cary, NC 27513. You can also email us at info@ncwug2027bid.com to work out another preferred payment method or to ask any questions you may have.
North Carolina Bid Now Includes Greensboro
With top-tier sports venues that have hosted many of the country’s biggest events in the sports of the World University Games, including the NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four, NCAA Division I Swimming Championships, U.S. Olympic Trials – Table Tennis, and the USA Gymnastics Championships, Greensboro is a strong addition to North Carolina’s bid for the 2027 Summer World University Games. Greensboro also has impressive multi-sport event experience with the AAU Junior Olympic Games, USA Masters Games, and State Games of North Carolina, among others. The Greensboro Aquatic Center at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex and the Ike Belk Track at Truist Stadium on the campus of North Carolina A&T State University are considered the two finest venues for their respective sports in all of North Carolina, and the Greensboro Coliseum is said to be the largest seated arena in America, with over 22,000 seats. Previously the Triangle and Greensboro teamed up to host the highly successful U.S. Olympic Festival in the late 1980’s and more recently in May of this year, Greensboro and other North Carolina cities partnered with the Triangle and Cary, NC, in hosting both the NCAA Men’s and Women’s College Cups (aka NCAA Soccer Championships). This was the first time in history that the entirety of either the Men’s or the Women’s tournaments, much less both, were played in a single state.
North Carolina FC/NC Courage and WCC Join NC WUG Bid Sponsor Team
North Carolina’s World University Games bid has added the first professional sports teams to its lineup of significant bid sponsors. North Carolina FC, which competes in the USL One league and the NC Courage of the National Women’s Professional Soccer League (NWSL) have become Official Sponsors of the bid. Both teams are headquartered in Cary and play their home games at WakeMed Soccer Park, one of the premier venues proposed for both Soccer and Rugby competition in the 2027 World University Games. In addition, the Wake Competition Center (WCC), home of the NHL Carolina Hurricanes practice facility, Triangle Volleyball, SGA Gymnastics, and the Accelerator School, among others, has also become an Official Bid Supporter. The WCC is conveniently located in Morrisville near Raleigh-Durham International Airport and is a potential Volleyball training location for the Games. “Our thanks go out to Steve Malik, owner, and Curt Johnson, President, as well as Jeff Ammons, WCC owner, for their leadership in their respective sports enterprises and for their willingness to lend their generous support to North Carolina’s bid to land the Summer World University Games,” said Hill Carrow, Chair & CEO of North Carolina’s bid. “We are excited to continue to work with both organizations on the potential of using their current or future facilities to help us host a fantastic Games.”
Support the Bid
You can support the bid in a number of ways: corporate sponsorship, individual contribution, volunteering, or purchasing bid merchandise. (Bid apparel could make an attractive holiday gift. Just click here.) We encourage you to visit our award-winning website at www.ncwug2027bid.com and join our team.
Sponsor Thank You’s
We cannot thank our sponsors enough for their strong belief in, and generous support of, North Carolina’s bid for the World University Games. We encourage you to patronize their businesses and give them your own personal thanks when you do.
Sponsors
