Faithful readers: yes, we did not send out our monthly eNews Update on September 30 as would normally be the case. Instead, we wanted to wait until today to distribute the September edition so that we could fill you in on the latest Site Visit by the International University Sports Federation (FISU), the international governing body for the World University Games, which concluded yesterday. We thank you for your patience and understanding and hope you are looking forward to the latest news which we are sharing with you below.
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FISU Team Makes Third Visit to NC in 9 Months
Our North Carolina Organizing Committee (NCOC), the Local Organizing Committee for the 2029 World University Games was delighted to welcome the team of Jing Zhao, Summer Games Director; Brian Carrer, Event Manager; Andrea Uccello, Senior Sports Manager; and Josh Miethke, Sports Manager, back to North Carolina for a multi-day Site Visit to review progress on the 2029 Games. The FISU Team visit covered a wide variety of topics and even geography while visiting our North Carolina University Hub region, which includes the Triangle and Triad areas of North Carolina.
NCOC had over 30 workers or attendees at the 2025 Rhine-Ruhr World University Games in July, including staff and Board members, volunteers, Host City executives, sponsor representatives, and sports managers. Of those, 21 were embedded in the LOC of the 2025 Games and were able to gain significant learning and insights on the operations of a World University Games from the inside out. Much of the first day of the FISU Site Visit, therefore, was spent gleaning input and insights from the NCOC Team members who were in Germany this summer for the Games. Also included was athlete input from Kennedy Noble, an NC State swimmer who was a WUG2025 Gold Medalist in the Women’s 100m Backstroke (also a new World University Games record) and 4x100m Medley Relay; and Lori Thomas, leader of the United States Team Delegation at the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 Games.
On other days the FISU Team delved into such topics as Games Functional Areas, Master Planning, Commercial Strategy, Budgets & Finance, Transportation, Accommodations, and much more. Andrea Uccello conducted a detailed 5-hour Sport Seminar for NCOC’s Sports Managers who are charged with directing and coordinating the sports of the 2029 Games. While all of those sports managers got on-the-job training recently at the 2025 World University Games in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany, where they were embedded with their respective sports operations teams at those Games, they still learned a great deal more about their WUG2029 roles and responsibilities during the seminar.
The FISU executives also participated in all-day Site Tours that included High Point University, the University of North Carolina Greensboro, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, and Wake Forest University. Also included were City of High Point and City of Winston-Salem facilities. In between times, the FISU Team was treated to a major luncheon at the Greensboro Sheraton hosted by the Koury Corporation and the City of Greensboro where the City brought together a large working group that will be focused on delivering the best Games possible in the Greater Greensboro area. Mayor Nancy Vaughan, City Manager Trey Davis, and Community Partnerships & Development Officer, April Albritton, all spoke on the excitement and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that the 2029 World University Games is bringing to Greensboro and central North Carolina.
Opportunity for Reader Input on Look of the Games
As we prepare for the 2029 World University Games, one of our biggest priorities is ensuring the Look of the Games reflects the true character and pride of North Carolina. That starts with hearing from you, our faithful readers, FISU family, sports fans, and community residents. Below is a link to a short, interactive survey. It’s quick: just a few questions asking for your perspective on what defines North Carolina. Your input will help shape how we tell North Carolina’s story to the world. We truly believe this event is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to showcase everything that makes North Carolina special. Thank you in advance for taking part and providing your input.
Kara Lawson Named U.S. Olympic Team Coach
On September 22, it was announced that Kara Lawson, Duke University Women’s Basketball Head Coach, has been named by USA Basketball as the head coach of the United States’ Women’s Basketball National Team for 2025 through 2028. This means that Coach Lawson will lead the U.S. Women’s National Team through both the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup in Berlin, Germany, and the 2028 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The start of Coach Lawson’s international career began with a Gold Medal in the 2001 World University Games in Beijing, China, where she competed as a member of the U.S. Team. She later won an Olympic Gold Medal competing on the U.S. National Team in the Summer Olympics, also in Beijing, in 2008. Since that time, Kara has coached the Women’s 3×3 Team to Gold at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, and served as Assistant Coach for the U.S. 3×3 Team that also took Gold at the Paris Olympics last year.
Coach Lawson played for the University of Tennessee in college where the team went to three Women’s NCAA Final Fours. As Head Coach at Duke, a Host University for the 2029 World University Games, during the last five seasons Kara has compiled a 97-41 (.703) record, leading the Blue Devils to 3 consecutive 20-win seasons and the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament crown earlier this year.
September 2025 Sports Briefs
FISU Technical Committee Visits Scheduled
The FISU Technical Committees for the 18 sports of the 2029 World University Games will be visiting central North Carolina communities from May 10 to 22, 2026, to do a detailed review of the venues proposed for the 2029 FISU Games as a critical part of the process to finalize the sports competition, warmup, and training facilities for the event.
Garmin Marathon Durham Announced:
This week, Marcus Manning, Executive Director of the Durham Sports Commission and a member of the 2029 World University Games Leadership Team, announced that Durham had been selected to serve as the third Host City (in addition to Toledo, Ohio, and Tucson, Arizona) for the Garmin Marathon Series. The Garmin Marathon, which is a Boston Marathon Qualifier, will be held on Saturday, May 2, 2026, will start at the historic American Tobacco Campus (developed by Capitol Broadcasting Company, a 2029 WUG Partner), will include the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, a 2029 WUG Host Venue, and will end at Wallace Wade Stadium on Duke’s campus. The event will also include a half marathon, 10k, and 5k.
U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Assembly Held in Salt Lake City
The 2025 U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Assembly, which serves as the Annual Meeting of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee as well as a central gathering point for the U.S. Olympic Family was held September 23-28 in Salt Lake City, Host City for the 2034 Winter Olympics. Hill Carrow, Chairman & CEO of WUG2029, attended on behalf of NCOC, with a goal of briefing the 19 Olympic Sport Governing Bodies that represent the sports of the 2029 World University Games on the progress towards the Games. Also in attendance from North Carolina were Bubba Cunningham, Athletic Director at UNC Chapel Hill, a Host University for the 2029 Games, and a member of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee Board of Directors; Paul Seiler and David Perkins, CEO and COO respectively, of USA Baseball in Cary; and Meredith Griffin of Raleigh, a national YMCA representative. A highlight of Hill’s time in Salt Lake was getting together with Don Stirling and Linda Luchetti, colleagues from their time together at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake. Don now serves as the Executive Director of the Larry & Gail Miller Family Foundation in Salt Lake and co-led the recent major fundraising effort that resulted in more than $230 million in charitable contributions to the Salt Lake 2034 Winter 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.
