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World Games in Duisburg: Opening celebrates culture and innovation!
The World University Games 2025 opened with over 20,000 spectators and a focus on sustainability and health.
World Games in Duisburg: Opening celebrates culture and innovation!
On July 16, 2025, the opening of the World University Games was celebrated in the Duisburg stadium. Loud news.rub.de 20,000 spectators were present when Leonz Eder officially opened the games. The president of the international university sports association FISU praised not only the opening itself, but also the large number of participating nations.
The spectacular stage of the celebration was designed as a work of art. It was surrounded by gigantic LED walls and symbolized communication and connection across national borders. Artificial chimneys, which paid homage to the industrial past of the Ruhr area, added a special visual touch. The opening ceremony combined a festival with a regional statement and a social vision, underlining the focus on the turbulent history of the Ruhr area and the general push for change.
Insights into the opening ceremony
Tradition and innovation found expression in the choreography, the stage design and the music, which form an exciting combination. The highlights included performances by artists such as Ayliva, Montez, Querbeat and DJ Topic, accompanied by the WDR Funkhausorchester. An impressive march by delegations with flags from all over the world rounded off the celebration. Over the next twelve days, around 8,000 students from over 2,000 international universities will compete for medals.
Thematic focus of the World Conference
An important part of the games is the FISU World Conference 2025, which is dedicated to the topic “Competing for Change: Exploring Sustainability and (Mental) Health through Sports”. This conference focuses on the intersection of physical performance, mental health and environmental sustainability.
The subtopics include aspects such as the pressure to perform among athletes and the challenges of work-life balance for high-performance trainers and other stakeholders in professional sports. Environmental sustainability initiatives on university campuses will also be discussed, as will holistic health and well-being in sports.
The relevance of these topics is becoming increasingly clear in the ever-changing world. Students who face both academic and athletic pressure to perform are at the center of these discussions. The conference aims to develop and support comprehensive strategies to improve athletic performance and career longevity and promote sustainable practices.
The result of these initiatives is intended to create healthier, more balanced communities that can cope with increasing pressure to perform in today's society. You can find more information about the events and initiatives at sustainable-sport events.de.