Torch of the FISU Games: Bochum is preparing for a big sports festival!

Torch of the FISU Games: Bochum is preparing for a big sports festival!

The anticipation for the FISU World University Games 2025 is growing as the torch will reach the Ruhr University Bochum on May 8, 2025. The captivating journey begins at the end of January 2023 in Turin, where the torch was lit at the winter version of the World University Games. This extraordinary event will take place from July 16 to 27, 2025 in several cities in the region - Bochum, Duisburg, Essen, Hagen, Mülheim and Berlin. Upon arrival on campus, the torch will be carried by a selection of outstanding athletes and personalities.

The runners include Prof. Dr. Elmar Weiler, former rector of the Ruhr University, and Jan Fitschen, a RUB alumnus who won both gold and silver at the 2003 Universiade. In addition, RUB alumna Sonja Greinacher, who won gold in 3×3 basketball at the 2024 Olympic Games, and Linn Kleine, silver medalist in cross-country, will carry the torch. Isabell Thal, who achieved 5th place in para-judo at the 2024 Paralympics, will also be part of the event.

A boost in talent and motivation

The list of torchbearers continues seamlessly with Lisa Clemens, a pioneer in wheelchair sports, and Prof. Dr. Petra Platen, a former national handball player and expert in sports medicine. The team is also led by talented RUB students and athletes such as Simon Reinke, a top swimming athlete, and Constantinrutsch, a competitive pole vault athlete. Aishwarya Deshpande and Dirk Fregin, trainers for Bollywood dance and diving, will also actively participate. The entire event provides numerous opportunities for spectators to cheer on the torchbearers along the route.

In the run-up to the competitions, the FISU World Conference 2025 on the topic “Competing for Change: Exploring Sustainability and (Mental) Health through Sports” will form a central element of the discussions. This conference will focus on the intersection of athletic performance, mental health and environmental sustainability and address pressing issues relevant to athletes. These include performance pressure, work-life balance challenges, and the implementation of ecological sustainability initiatives on university campuses.

Need for action and strategies

The conference strives to develop comprehensive strategies to promote a healthy, balanced community. Special emphasis is placed on mental health resilience and supporting athletes in high-pressure environments. The target group is scientists and students who are directly confronted with the challenges of academic and sporting life. The aim is to find practical solutions that improve both the sporting performance and the personal well-being of those involved in the long term.

These week and a half in 2025 promise not only exciting sporting highlights, but also valuable discussions about a sustainable future in sport. Through initiatives such as the FISU World Conference, the importance of mental health and environmental responsibility is brought to the forefront to support and inspire future generations of athletes.

Planning and executing these prestigious events requires not only the coordination of talent, but also an active dialogue about the challenges athletes face. In this sense, the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU Games will be a true touchstone for sporting and social developments.