This week marks less than 50 days to go to the 2025 FISU World University Games in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany. The 2025 World University Games Torch Relay is already winding its way through the Games Host Cities on the way to Opening Ceremonies. The Rhine-Ruhr Region, named for the two main rivers in the area, lies in North Rhine Westphalia, the most populous state in Germany with over 18 million residents. The primary point of entry is Dusseldorf, and the local Host Cities for the Games, including Duisburg, Essen, Mulheim, Bochum and Hagen spread eastward from Dusseldorf, in an area that is not unlike our host region for the 2029 World University Games in North Carolina USA. It is a welcoming place with warm and friendly people, and we look forward to the Opening Ceremonies of the 2025 Games approximately 7 weeks from now.
GoTriangle Bus Wrap Designs Win International Award
Designs that grace the exterior of GoTriangle buses and stunningly promote the 2029 FISU World University Games recently earned worldwide creative recognition of their own.
The designs, created by Cary’s Hummingbird Creative Group, an Official Supporter of the 2029 World University Games, and displayed on two GoTriangle buses to help promote the Games, were honored with a 2025 Platinum Hermes Award as part of the Hermes Creative Awards international competition’s Pro Bono category. The designs feature an array of athletes under the theme, “Many Teams, One Dream.” Platinum represents the highest possible Hermes Award.
“It’s an incredible honor for Hummingbird Creative Group to receive this prestigious international recognition for our work on the 2029 FISU World University Games bus wraps,” said Wendy Coulter, CEO/President of Hummingbird Creative Group. “This award truly underscores the dedication and creative vision of our team in crafting branded environmental graphics that not only effectively promote this significant global event but also resonate with a universal message of athletic excellence for our state.”
Byron Smith, Acting President/CEO of GoTriangle, added, “At GoTriangle, we literally connect people every day all across our region with safe and reliable transportation. These award-winning bus wrap designs illustrate that we also have the opportunity to connect with people on a global scale. We can’t wait to be a transportation partner for the 2029 FISU World University Games.”
UniUSA Comes to North Carolina
UniUSA (formerly the United States International University Sports Federation or USIUSF) is our U.S. member organization of the International University Sports Federation (FISU), the world governing body for international university sports. On May 5, the UniUSA Board of Directors convened for their spring meeting in Charlotte, at the offices of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) located near the campus of the University of North Carolina Charlotte
Though UniUSA has its headquarters in Overland Park, Kansas, the organization has strong ties to North Carolina, with two of its Board members, and the legal counsel to the Board, all residing in the greater Charlotte area: Chris Parker, President of the NJCAA, serves as Vice President of UniUSA; Michelle Meadows, NJCAA Vice President of Operations and COO, serves as a Board member; and Jeff White serves as Legal Counsel to both the NJCAA and UniUSA.
During the Board of Directors meeting, Hill Carrow, Chair & CEO of the 2029 FISU Summer World University Games, briefed the Board on progress thus far in organizing the 2029 Games. In addition, the members received updates and presentations from Nels Hawkinson of BTI, the agency that manages the USA Team’s transport to, and participation in, the World University Games. Nels reported the exciting news that the USA Team that will compete in the 2025 Rhine-Ruhr World University Games will include more than 500 athletes and be one of the largest country delegations at this summer’s Games.
Pictured (Front Row, L-R): Delise O’Meally (FISU), Dan Guerrero (Pres.), Lori Thomas (Secy. Gen.), Bob Vecchione (NACDA)
Sports Brief
Men’s Collegiate Tennis: Two teams from our WUG29 Host Universities hosted Regional Competition in the NCAA Men’s Tennis Championships May 2-5: NC State and Wake Forest. Duke Men’s Team qualified for regional competition in Knoxville, TN. Wake Forest and NC State advanced to Super Regionals with Wake Forest hosting at home and NC State traveling to the New York City Super Regionals, May 9-11. The Demon Deacons beat Texas A&M in the Super Regionals and went on to win the National Championship with a win over TCU 4-2 in the finals in Waco, Texas.
Women’s Collegiate Tennis: Three of our WUG29 Host Universities – Duke, NC State, and UNC Chapel Hill – hosted NCAA Women’s National Tennis Championships Regionals May 2-5. Wake Forest’s Women’s Team qualified for regional action in Knoxville, TN. Both NC State and UNC Chapel Hill advanced to Super Regionals and had to play against each other in Chapel Hill. UNC made it past NC State and advanced as far as the NCAA Semi-finals in Waco, TX, before falling to eventual national champion, Georgia.
Women’s Collegiate Softball: UNC Chapel Hill qualified for its first NCAA Regionals since 2019. The Heels traveled to the Knoxville, TN, Regional where they lost to #2-ranked Ohio State on May 16. Duke served as an NCAA Regionals Host at Duke Softball Stadium, a WUG29 Host Venue. Duke beat Howard and Georgia in early games but lost to Georgia in the Regional Finals.
Men’s Collegiate Baseball: UNC Chapel Hill won the Atlantic Coast Conference Championships on Saturday, May 24 at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park (a WUG29 Host Venue) in Durham and will host NCAA Regional Championships competition this weekend at Boshamer Stadium (also a WUG29 Host Venue) on UNC’s campus. Duke, NC State, and Wake Forest will all travel to NCAA Regionals.
Collegiate Track & Field: Qualifiers for NCAA First Rounds included were Drew Noblet (Javelin) and Graham Ferguson (1500m) of High Point University; Isaiah Taylor (110m and 400m Hurdles) and Xzaviah Taylor(400m Hurdles) of NC A&T State University; and Malcolm Forbes (Triple Jump), Jonathn Raijon-Koger (High Jump), Tia Lucas (Women’s High Jump), Theodore Skinner (High Jump), and Melanne Sutton (Women’s 100m) of NC Central University. High Point University, NC A&T State University, and North Carolina Central University are all 2029 World University Games Host Universities.
Miscellaneous
We loved reading the Raleigh News & Observer’s article (May 9, 2025) recommending things to do and see while spending a day in Raleigh. Included was time at NC State at the “Whisper Disks.” All good Wolfpackers refer to the Whisper Disks as the Wolf’s Ears, which is actually a very unique sculpture that was part of the U.S. Olympic Festival-’87 Arts Festival and which was donated to NC State by the Olympic Festival Organizing Committee at the conclusion of the event.
In Memoriam – Recent Passings
John Brantley: John was the Director of Raleigh-Durham International Airport for almost 30 years, which included the U.S. Olympic Festival in 1987, North Carolina’s largest sports event to date. John was instrumental in helping expedite the construction of Terminal 2 at the airport by a year and a half to have the new terminal ready for the Olympic Festival. With the help of the Olympic Festival LOC, the very first pole banners were installed on the light standards outside the terminals, which are still used today to celebrate major events in the Triangle, including the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championships in March.
Roddy Jones: Roddy was the President of Davidson & Jones Construction Company for over two decades. Among D&J’s largest developments was the Imperial Center which today includes over 4 million square feet of mixed-use development at the intersection of Interstates 40 and 540. In 1985, however, Imperial Center was only a handful of buildings when Roddy, together with Imperial Center financier, Principal Financial Group, began providing complimentary office space to the 1987 U.S. Olympic Festival Organizing Committee. Thanks to that early support, USOF-’87 was a big success and the Imperial Center has become a major center of commerce across our region.
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.
