May is an amazing month for colleges and universities in North Carolina as graduations take place, often on or around Mother’s Day, for tens of thousands of students. Hotels are full, major event spaces are packed, parents are proud, and graduates are celebrating. So you could not ask for a better month to have executives of the International University Sports Federation (FISU), international governing body for the World University Games (based in Lausanne, Switzerland, the Olympic City), and 18 top university sport officials visit central North Carolina to review the venue options being proposed for the 2029 World University Games!
FISU Technical Committee Chairs Review North Carolina Venues
The 15-day site visit to North Carolina USA to review proposed venues and provide extensive detail on specific sports operations for the 2029 FISU World University Games took place beginning Thursday, May 7, and concluded Thursday, May 21, 2026. The visit was led by FISU Summer Games executives Jing Zhao, FISU Games Director – Summer; and included Brian Carrer, Senior Sports Manager; Josh Miethke, Sports Manager; and Lara Bernassi, Sports Manager.
The visit featured site inspections, technical seminars, and individual sports meetings led by FISU’s Sport Technical Committee Chairs (TCCs). There were 18 TCC’s involved representing 15 different countries. Sport reviews covered virtually all of the 18 sports included in the 2029 FISU World University Games plus the Para Sport of 3×3 Wheelchair Basketball and newly added Open Water Swimming.
Jing Zhao, Director of FISU World University Games, said, “The initial visit of the Technical Committee Chairs is an important milestone in the planning for, and development of, the FISU World University Games. The TCCs are the technical experts in their respective sports, and they are able to share great knowledge and insights into the planning, setup, and operations of those sports leading into, and during, the FISU Games. In particular, they are able to work with the Local Organizing Committee for the Games to determine the necessary venues and venue configurations to best deliver their sport at event-time. The extensive shared sport learnings, more than 3 years in advance of the FISU Games, can greatly assist the event host organization in ensuring the most efficient and effective delivery of the sports of the 2029 World University Games.”
The visiting sport executives were as follows: Maki Nakano of Japan (Archery), Vadim Nigmatov of Tajikistan (Athletics/Track & Field), Steve Butcher of the United States (Artistic Gymnastics), Bastian Kruse of Germany (Badminton), Ulf Ohrman of Sweden (Basketball), Eric Brooker of Australia (Diving), Julius Kralic of Slovakia (Fencing), Maksims Raspopovs of Latvia (Football/Soccer), Josef Zellweger of Switzerland (Rhythmic Gymnastics), Patrick Drid of Serbia (Judo), Deirdre O’Sullivan of Ireland (Rugby 7s), Tom Baster of Great Britain (Swimming), Andrzej Hrehorowicz of Poland (Table Tennis), Russell Ahn of the United States (Taekwondo), Nao Kawatei of Japan (Tennis), Melanie Sanford of Canada (Volleyball), Michael Goldenberg of the United States (Water Polo), and Luc Vergoossen of the Netherlands (3×3 Wheelchair Basketball).
Hill Carrow, Chairman & CEO of the North Carolina Organizing Committee (NCOC) for the 2029 FISU World University Games, had this to say, “While it involves a great deal of work and tremendous support and cooperation among our venues, universities, local sport executives, and communities to host 22 senior sport executives from around the world on a dawn-to-dusk schedule for 15 days in a row, everyone pulled together extremely well and truly demonstrated the extensive assets, experience, and good ole Southern hospitality of Team North Carolina. Both FISU and their technical committee chairs were very impressed with not only our sport venues, but also our universities, and our local sport and community representatives. They also frequently commented on how much they like how ‘green’ North Carolina is. The bottom line is that this visit helps us get to about 90% certainty on our proposed venues for the FISU Games, which is significant progress at this stage in the preparations for the big event.”
Thank you to Capitol Broadcasting Company, Official Partner of the 2029 World University Games, for the extended coverage of the FISU Site Visit on WRAL-TV (NBC) in Raleigh. Additional news coverage of the visit appeared on WFMY-TV (CBS) Greensboro, WGHP-TV (Fox) in High Point), WXII-TV (NBC) in Winston-Salem, CBS17 in Raleigh, and Spectrum TV in Charlotte and across North Carolina. FISU’s next visit is scheduled for November of 2026, at which time FISU executives are expecting to be accompanied by the TCC’s for Baseball and Softball.
Staff, Interns, and Fellows Transition Time
We recently had to say farewell to our Spring Intern Team of Peyton Barnes (NC State), Samantha Richey (UNC Chapel Hill), Melvin Sifford (NC State), Miles Soza (Peace), and Nicholas Vargas (Peace). The Spring Team did an outstanding job advancing the ball on our WUG2029 planning and preparation significantly, and even working overtime to help facilitate the visits of the FISU Technical Committee Chairs. Peyton, Samantha, Melvin, Miles, and Nicholas all graduated from their respective universities, and we wish them much continuing success as they embark on their careers.
Picking up the baton for the summer are 5 interns and 2 Triangle Sports Business Fellows. The interns are Ryan Brannan, a junior at the University of South Carolina; Trammell Frueauf, a senior at the University of North Carolina Wilmington; Blake Helig, a senior at NC State University; Grace Kealy, a senior at Campbell University; and Louisa Wendt, a Junior at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Also joining the summer staff are two Triangle Sports Business Fellows, Holly Copeland, a senior at UNC Chapel Hill; and Savannah Hameed, a Junior at Elon University.
Sadly we had to say goodbye to our former intern and more recently part-time staff member, Eva Vestal. Eva graduated from NC State University and is now out west working at Yosemite National Park this summer. Eva was an outstanding WUG2029 team member. We miss her already but wish her the best in her next adventure
Front Row: Grace Kealy, Savannah Hameed, Holly Copeland
Showcasing North Carolina Universities: It’s Not All About Sports
One of the goals for the 2029 Games is to showcase many of North Carolina’s institutions of higher education to the world – after all, a World University Games seems like the perfect vehicle to demonstrate the breadth and depth of our NC USA universities. The World University Games are built on 3 main pillars: Athletic Competition, Education, and Arts & Culture. Of the 16 universities currently involved in helping to host the Games, not all of them will include Games sports competition or training. In fact at least 4 or 5 of those schools will not host sports events or activities at all – for example, Durham Technical Community College does not even have any athletic facilities. That is where the Education and Arts & Culture components of the Games come into play, enabling the Local Organizing Committee to work with the universities to place activities and events in those programs on “non-athletic” campuses so they can be part of the 2029 World University Games celebration.
NC State University in Raleigh has been particularly involved in the in the Games in the Education sector, beginning with the endorsement of the Student Senate and support of former Chancellor Randy Woodson for North Carolina’s bid for the Games. NCSU has had a number of schools, departments, student groups, institutes, and centers involved in the Games planning – with more to come. The university has been a long-standing participant in Games internship programs, has had Games executives serve as mentors in campus Fellows programs, and currently is a host location for the Games World Conference. Last month NCSU had Games execs present to the Student Tourism Association and serve as Guest Lecturers on the Games to two Sport Management classes. This academic year an entire class at NCSU may take on World University Games planning as a class project, and next year NCSU professors will begin work on a new graduate curriculum focused on the Games, which NCSU committed to in the Games bid, and is planned to be a joint program between NCSU and North Carolina Central University.
WUG 2029 Sport Briefs
The U.S. Masters Swimming Spring National Championships got underway today in Greensboro at the Greensboro Aquatic Center. The meet will continue tomorrow and conclude on Sunday. With over 2,000 swimmers, the meet is one of the largest swimming competitions in the country. Hill Carrow, WUG2029 CEO, has served as Meet Director for the championships five times, but this time around he is competing and serving as a meet volunteer. The Championships are also serving as something of a test event for our Local Organizing Committee for the 2029 World University Games, where our LOC is helping to recruit volunteers for various meet assignments. In addition, a number of the 2029 World University Games staff members started work today as volunteers at the meet including Peyton Barnes, Andrew Blattner, Michael Conte, Joel Davis, Melissa Hartzell, Andrew Perna, and Melvin Sifford.
WUG 2029 Sports Briefs
- Women’s Tennis: North Carolina schools did very well in NCAA Tournament action this month with both UNC Chapel Hill and NC State hosting Regionals and Super Regionals. Both schools advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championships while Duke University Women made the Round of 8. UNC Charlotte also made the championships.
- Men’s Tennis: Five NC USA universities made it into the NCAA Tournament: Duke, Elon, NC State, UNC Chapel Hill, and Wake Forest University. Duke, Elon, and UNC lost in the first round, NCSU was out in the second round, but Wake Forest, which went into the tournament ranked #1, made it to the semi-finals before succumbing to the eventual NCAA Champion Virginia Cavaliers.
- Baseball: Wake Forest, NC State, and UNC Chapel Hill all qualified for the NCAA Baseball Tournament. UNC is hosting Regionals at home at Boshamer Stadium, a WUG2029 venue, while NC State travels to Auburn and Wake Forest will be at West Virginia University for their regional competition. Regional action for all three teams begins this weekend.
- Softball: For the 5th time in program history, Duke University hosted NCAA Tournament regional action at Smith Family Stadium, a WUG2029 Host Venue. Duke Women’s Softball won the regional and advanced to the Super Regional before losing to Arkansas.
- Swimming: At the U.S. Masters Swimming Spring National Championships which took place earlier this month at the Greensboro Aquatic Center, a WUG2029 Host Venue, which also served as a partial Test Event for the 2029 FISU Games, two Board Members of the North Carolina Organizing Committee (NCOC) for the 2029 World University Games did well. Erika Braun was a National Champion in 2 events, placed 2nd in 7 events, and 3rd in 1 event. Meanwhile Hill Carrow medaled in 6 events.
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.
