Fire of the Games: World University Championships celebrate sport and community!

Fire of the Games: World University Championships celebrate sport and community!

On May 15, 2025, the fire of the World University Games was lit on the campus of the Ruhr University Bochum. This celebration is part of the official tour in preparation for the Games, which will take place from July 16 to 27, 2025 in several cities in Germany, including Bochum, Duisburg, Essen, Hagen, Mülheim and Berlin. The rector of the university, Martin Paul, highlighted the crucial role of volunteers and active participants in the success of this event. Loud news.rub.de The holding of this event is unique as it will not be repeated in Germany for the next 50 to 60 years.

Ines Lenze, head of university sports in Bochum and the German delegation, emphasized the uniqueness of the World University Games. This event aims to generate enthusiasm for the sport and connect people across national borders. Impressions of the torch relay, which symbolizes the start of the games, were recorded in a picture gallery.

Participants of the torch relay

The torch relay included numerous prominent participants who have achieved great success in the field of sports. Including:

• Prof. Dr. Elmar Weiler, ehemaliger Rektor der Ruhr-Universität und Volunteer bei den WUG 2025.
• Jan Fitschen, RUB-Alumnus und Leichtathletik-Spitzensportler (Goldmedaille 10.000 Meter, Silbermedaille 5.000 Meter bei Universiade 2003).
• Sonja Greinacher, RUB-Alumna und Basketball-Spitzensportlerin (Goldmedaille im 3×3 Basketball bei Olympischen Spielen 2024).
• Linn Kleine, RUB-Studentin und Spitzensportlerin (Silbermedaille im Cross-Country bei World University Championships 2022).
• Isabell Thal, RUB-Studentin und Para-Judo-Sportlerin (Platz 5 bei Paralympics 2024).
• Lisa Clemens, RUB-Studentin, erste Studentin der Sportwissenschaft im Rollstuhl.
• Prof. Dr. Petra Platen, Lehrstuhl für Sportmedizin und frühere Handball-Nationalspielerin (Teilnahme an Olympischen Spielen 1984).
• Georgios Charalampidis, RUB-Student und Leistungssportler im Tanzen.
• Simon Reinke, RUB-Student und Spitzensportler im Schwimmen.
• Constantin Rutsch, RUB-Alumnus und Leistungssportler im Stabhochsprung.
• Aishwarya Deshpande, Übungsleiterin für Bollywood-Tanzsport.
• Dirk Fregin, Übungsleiter für Tauchsport.
• Max Müller, RUB-Student und früherer Übungsleiter für Schwimmen.
• Dr. Arno Krombholz, Dozent, der das Thema Inklusion an der Fakultät für Sportwissenschaft unterstützt.
• Nils Schäfer, Initiator der Sportart Mountainbike an der RUB und Chef-Organisator der Deutschen Hochschulmeisterschaft im Mountainbike.

Sustainability in sport

In addition to the enthusiasm for sport, the World University Games also places a strong focus on sustainability. The FISU World Conference 2025 will take place under the motto “Competing for Change: Exploring Sustainability and (Mental) Health through Sports”. This conference addresses important topics at the intersection of physical performance, (mental) health and environmental sustainability.

The subtopics include mental health aspects and pressure to perform among athletes, as well as the challenges of work-life balance for high-performance trainers and referees. The importance of ecological sustainability initiatives on university campuses is also highlighted.

In a rapidly changing world, these issues are particularly relevant. The students, who often face academic and athletic pressures, are at the center of the discussion. The goal is to develop comprehensive strategies that not only improve athletic performance, but also promote sustainable practices and create support networks. This could create healthier, more balanced communities.

Overall, it remains to be seen how the event will develop and what results will emerge from the combination of sport and sustainability as preparations for the World University Games are in full swing.