Happy Halloween to all our 2029 FISU World University Games fans! We have so much news to report in this month’s eNews Update it’s scary! Before we get to all our Games-related news, however, we want to remind everyone that your donations of money, goods, and services are still welcome and needed in western North Carolina, which has a long road to recovery ahead. We are very proud of the sports community in our state which has worked in so many ways to help the communities affected including hosting families from the affected areas; contributing funds, services, and labor; raising money through concerts and special events; holding donation drives for food, clothing, and essential supplies; and much, much more. Our industry knows the importance of teamwork, and it is so gratifying to see the “we are all in this together” team approach to aiding those so dramatically and adversely affected by Hurricane Hellene.
North Carolina Scores Big with Additional Sports National Championships
Earlier this month the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) announced the sites for major college and university sports championships from 2026 through 2028, and the state of North Carolina came up big landing 17 different championship events! North Carolina’s University Hub, the host location for the 2029 FISU World University Games (which includes Wake, Durham, Orange, Alamance, and Guilford Counties) landed 13 championships or more than 75% of the championships awarded to the state! Here are those 13 Championships and their locations:
2026
- NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer College Cup, WakeMed Soccer Park, Cary
- NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer College Cup, WakeMed Soccer Park, Cary
2027
- NCAA Division III Swimming & Diving Finals, Greensboro Aquatic Center, Greensboro
- NCAA National Collegiate Fencing Finals, Cameron Indoor Stadium, Duke University, Durham
- NCAA Division I Women’s Gymnastics Regional Finals, Reynolds Coliseum, NC State Univ, Raleigh
- NCAA Division II Baseball Championships, USA Baseball National Training Complex, Cary
- NCAA Division I Field Hockey Finals, Karen Shelton Stadium, UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill
- NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer College Cup, WakeMed Soccer Park, Cary
- NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer College Cup, WakeMed Soccer Park, Cary
2028
- NCAA Division III Swimming & Diving Finals, Greensboro Aquatic Center, Greensboro
- NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball East Regionals, Lenovo Center, Raleigh
- NCAA Division II Baseball Championships, USA Baseball National Training Complex, Cary
- NCAA National Collegiate Water Polo Finals, Greensboro Aquatic Center, Greensboro
Every venue referenced above, with the exception of Karen Shelton Stadium, is a host venue for 2029 World University Games competition or training. Local college and university hosts for the above events include 2029 FISU Games Host Institutions Duke University, NC State University, and the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.
Other North Carolina locations landing NCAA championships are:
- Kernersville: 2026 NCAA Division II Cross Country Regionals
- Wingate: 2027 NCAA Division II Field Hockey Finals
- Charlotte: 2027 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament First & Second Rounds
- Bermuda Run: 2028 NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Regional
Under One Year To Go to the 2025 FISU Summer World University Games!
Last week, Hill Carrow, Chairman & CEO of the North Carolina Organizing Committee (NCOC) for the 2029 World University Games in North Carolina USA, had the opportunity to travel to Germany to start the planning for a potential contingent from North Carolina to attend the 2025 World University Games in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany, July 16-25, 2025. Similar to North Carolina, the Rhine-Ruhr Games will feature a multi-city host region including Duisburg, Essen, Mulheim, Bochum, and Hagen. Berlin will also host the aquatic events.
While in the area, Hill was able to visit with the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for the 2025 FISU Games. With only 9 months to go to the Games, the Games staff were hard at work on final logistics and preparations, but were nice enough to spend time showing some of the local sites and sport venues, while also sharing information on how Games preparations are progressing.
“It was so exciting to see all the energy and high-level of activity at the Organizing Committee,” Hill said. “That was very motivational for me. I came back to North Carolina even more excited about the world-class event we are hosting and how the efforts of everyone, from those on the full-time staff, to the thousands of volunteers, and to all the venue and sport managers in between, are critical to the success of the Games – success which can only be achieved when everyone pulls together as one seamless team to deliver an unforgettable World University Games and a once-in-a-lifetime athlete experience!”
Special thanks go out to the entire Rhine-Ruhr Team and all their supporters, but particularly to Nicklas Borger, CEO; Sina Diekmann, CSO; Donna Spethman and Rebecca Heims, International Relations; Michael Collins, Games Ops; Maurice Fuchs, Accommodations; Robert Breitbarth, Venues; Mirinda Kidman, Delegation Services: Anita Hartung, Basketball Manager; and many more. We are wishing you and the FISU Summer Games Team much success, and we look forward to our United States Team competing in, and our North Carolina USA Delegation attending, the 2025 World University Games in Rhine-Ruhr!
News Brief
NCOC Legal Counsel: We are pleased to announce that Maynard Nexsen, one of the largest law firms in the Carolinas, has agreed to serve as Legal Counsel to NCOC, the Local Organizing Committee for the 2029 World University Games. Maynard Nexsen is a full-service law firm with 25 offices across the United States and affiliated firms on six continents. The firm has over 550 lawyers and professionals in more than 100 areas of practice. In North Carolina, Maynard Nexsen has major offices in Raleigh, Greensboro, and Charlotte. Lead attorney for Maynard Nexsen on the 2029 World University Games is Dave Robinson, who, in addition to his legal practice, also serves in North Carolina as Honorary Consul to Japan.
WUG Internship Program Lauded by NCSU: Fall interns, Cameron Michalak, NC State University, and Jo’Sean Artis, William Peace University, have been joined by Justin Jones, recent NCSU intern who has rejoined our WUG2029 Team, in developing plans for the 2029 World University Games. Professor Jan Bethea of NC State University recently visited and gave the program a great shoutout on her LinkedIn post, saying, “I love seeing our students at their internship sites… They are getting valuable experience and a behind-the-scenes look at event planning on a massive scale. Thanks Jen Keurulainen and Hill Carrow for guiding our students and giving them this opportunity.”
New Triangle Pro Sports Team: Major League Table Tennis has made its debut in the Triangle with league play taking place at Triangle Table Tennis and Badminton, a 2029 World University Games training venue, in Morrisville, September 20-22. Triangle Table Tennis and Badminton is the home of the Carolina Gold Rush Team which swept the competition that weekend on their home court.
Durham Bulls Athletic Park, a 2029 World University Games competition venue, and the Durham Bulls hosted the 3rd Annual All-American Women’s Baseball Classic October 11-13. The Classic featured four teams comprised of the top Women’s Baseball players from around the world, ranging in age from 15 to 50! Rosters included current and former members of the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and Mexico National Teams.
The North Carolina Department of Commerce served as the host of the 46th Annual Southeast U.S./Japan Association (SEUS Japan Conference) this week in Charlotte, from October 27-29, 2024. It was an amazing gathering that included dignitaries such as North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, Speaker of the House Tim Moore, UNC Chapel Hill Chief Global Officer Barbara Stephenson, and Japan’s Ambassador to the United States, Shigeo Yamada. Co-Chaired by Sean Suggs, President of Toyota Battery Manufacturing, and Masaaki Tsuya, Immediate Past CEO of Bridgestone Corporation, the conference was attended by more than 500 delegates from Japan and the U.S. Japanese companies that have a major presence in North Carolina, such as Toyota, HondaJet, and FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies, did demonstrations of, or presentations on, their products and activities in the state. Hill Carrow represented the 2029 World University Games at the conference where he was able to discuss the Games with fellow attendees to build interest in, and excitement for, what promises to be the largest event that will ever be held in North Carolina.
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.