World University Games (Universiade) and the World University Championships

The World University Games (also known as the Universiade) and the World University Championships are major international events for top athletes studying in higher education institutions. The International University Sports Federation (FISU) grants the right to organise these events.

The Universiade is a multi-sport event held every two years (odd years) with separate tournaments for winter and summer sports, similar to the Olympic Games. In the intervening years when no Universiade are held, the World University Championships are held in sports that are not an established part of the Universiade.

Athletes currently studying in a university or in a university of applied sciences, and athletes who have graduated from a university or a university of applied sciences during the ongoing or previous year, and who are aged 18–25 at the end of the competition year (31st December) may participate in the World University Games and the World University Championships.

The Finnish Olympic Committee’s High Performance Unit selects the teams for the World University Games and the World University Championships based on proposals made by national sport associations.

Read more about the World University Games and the World University Championships on the Finnish Olympic Committee website (page only in Finnish)

For questions regarding high-performance student sports, please contact the Finnish Olympic Committee’s University Sport Manager Jukka Tirri:
jukka.tirri(a)olympiakomitea.fi
+358 44 7800 213