Some think of the July – August timeframe as the summer doldrums – a period when the activity level is low. However, we here at the Local Organizing Committee for the 2029 World University Games have not experienced a summer downturn. Instead, we’ve had a busy July and look forward to telling you all about it.
Celebrating Women’s Sports and 3 Years 2 Go Until the Games
A standing-room only crowd jammed the large meeting space at Rush Hour Karting in Morrisville on Tuesday, July 14 to celebrate both Women’s Sports and the important 3 Years To Go milestone in planning and preparation for the Games. Attendees came from as far as Charlotte and Wilmington to take part in this important celebration. The program began with an enthusiastic welcome to Morrisville from the Mayor of Morrisville, TJ Cawley.
The Official Welcome was followed by our first panel of the day, literally an all-star panel of some of the best known women sports industry leaders in the country. Moderated by Rachel Axon, Olympics & Women’s Sports Reporter for the Sports Business Journal, the panel featured Debbie Antonelli, ESPN and CBS Women’s Basketball analyst; Francie Gottsegen, President of the National Women’s Soccer League’ NC Courage; and Thayer Lavielle, Managing Director of The Collective at The Team (formerly Wasserman).
The second panel was moderated by Debbie Antonelli, with featured panelists, Olivia Gaines, Head Women’s Basketball Coach at NC Central University; Erin Neppel, UNC Women’s Rowing Head Coach; and Sarah Knox Harper, UNC Rowing athlete and USA Team rowing competitor in Germany last year in the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 World University Games.
Importantly, the event also marked 3 Years 2 Go to the 2029 North Carolina USA World University Games and a significant amount of the panel discussions included key aspects related to the Games, including the event’s significant positive economic impacts on the state, host communities, and universities.
The program concluded with a video produced by Colleen Blondell, noted Cary, NC, real estate agent, for the American Dream TV YouTube channel. While the video focused on Cary’s role in hosting the Games, it was well-produced with exciting footage of the 2025 Games which highlighted the magnitude and excitement of the Games. (You can view the video by clicking here.)
Special thanks go to Adam Saad, Owner of Rush Hour Karting, and Ryan Wagner, Rush Hour Director of Sales & Marketing, for hosting this significant event in a unique environment that received rave reviews from the attendees – especially those who took advantage of the karting, games, simulators, and even ax throwing afterwards.
Rugby 15s Makes its Debut in the Triangle
Saturday, July 18, was a huge day for the sport of Rugby at WakeMed Soccer Park, host venue for both Rugby and Soccer in the 2029 World University Games. The main event featured USA versus Spain in Rugby 15s. The match was hosted by World Rugby and was part of the World Rugby Nations Cup, a multi-city tour with international friendly matches showcasing the world’s highest level of Rugby competition. (WUG2029 Host City, Charlotte, was also a stop on the tour, with a match between the USA and Zimbabwe the preceding Saturday.) Over 7,000 fans came out to cheer for both the USA and Spain in an exciting and highly competitive match that saw the USA prevail by a score of 29 to 22.
The Spain vs. USA match was not the only Rugby competition of the day at WakeMed. Earlier in the day North Carolina Youth Rugby hosted a youth Rugby 7s tournament on the outlying fields at the soccer park. Also, Scott Conway, Rugby Sport Manager for the 2029 World University Games, served as tournament manager for a 16-team Rugby 7s Club Tournament at WakeMed. All the participants of the youth and club tournaments received tickets for the evening’s featured match where they got to see the professionals battle it out.
Rugby leaders such as Bill Goren, CEO of USA Rugby; Patrick Stack, President of Anthem Rugby in Charlotte; and Logan Meier of World Rugby’s technology team were in attendance. Special thanks go to Mick Hogan and Raquel Macias of World Rugby, the Town of Cary, GRSA, and local youth and club rugby leaders for helping make the event a big success. And we want to give a shoutout to our WUG2029 Team members Andrew Perna, Holly Copeland, Trammell Frueauf, and Louisa Wendt, who all worked the event and contributed nicely as well.
It was amazing to see and experience the enthusiasm of the crowd for the sport of Rugby, and we very much hope that all those fans and more will come join us for the Rugby competition of the 2029 World University Games
Farewell to Two Summer Staffers
Today is the last day in the office for two great summer interns, Grace Kealy, a senior Sports Management major at Campbell University who will graduate in May 2027, and Chris Schulz, who has been in our Summer Law Associate program, a Third Year Law Student at Wake Forest University also graduating next spring. We appreciate all their contributions and hard work and wish them well as they finish up their final years in school.
WUG 2029 Sport Briefs
Charlotte hosted the MLS All-Star Game on Wednesday, July 29, at Bank of America Stadium where the MLS All-Stars topped the La Liga All-Stars 4-3 before a crowd of over 35,000.
Greensboro reports that the city still is “living the dream” of having one of World Cup Soccer’s biggest celebrity players, Erling Haaland of Team Norway, praising the city as an ideal location for the team’s base camp. Haaland, extolling the city’s friendliness, support of the fans (more than 20,000 turned out for an open practice session), and local golf scene (where he enjoyed a round at Sedgefield Country Club, home of the Wyndham PGA Championship).
WUG2029 Summer Interns are finishing up strong with several recent out-of-the-office learning programs including an evening at the Triangle region’s newest pro team, the Carolina Blaze in their Game against the Chicago Bandits, at Smith Family Stadium at Duke, a 2029 Games Host Venue. This week they also did a workday visit to the NC Courage offices and stadium, and attended the Durham Bulls game against the Gwinnett Stripers at Durham Bulls Athletic Park, another WUG2029 Host Venue. In the meantime, our two Triangle Sports Business Fellows, Savannah Hameed and Holly Copeland, traveled to Charlotte, for a behind-the-scenes look and briefing at 23XI Racing, Michael Jordan’s NASCAR Team offices and operations.
Hill Carrow, Chairman & CEO for the 2029 World University Games, was interviewed by Steve Rao on the Leaders & Legends Podcast yesterday afternoon regarding the Games. The Leaders & Legends Podcast airs on Radio Nyra 99.9 FMHD4, 101.9 AM and 1490 AM and at www.radionyra.com.
Jackie Woodward, Chief Marketing Officer for the 2029 World University Games, and Hill Carrow were in Deer Valley, Utah, earlier this week for the Sports Business Journal’s Thought Leaders conference. There they were able to connect with sport leaders on the Games such as Sarah Hirschland, CEO of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee; Fraser Bullock, President & Executive Chair of the Utah 2034 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games, and Jeremy Bloom, CEO of the X Games, among others.
Also this week, Jared Humiston of ADK Technology, the technology consultant for the 2029 World University Games was in town to review venues and meet with staff as part of the ongoing planning process for the Technology Solution for the 2029 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.
