North Carolina to host Olympic-style summer games for college athletes in 2029

The World University Games are coming to North Carolina and the Triangle after all.

The state, which lost its bid to host the Olympic-style summer games for student-athletes in 2027, was awarded the 2029 Games on Tuesday by the International University Sports Federation, known as FISU. The federation's executive committee voted for North Carolina on Tuesday afternoon, marking just the second time the summer games will be held in the U.S.

"We're excited for the opportunity to host the World University Games in North Carolina in 2029. Our state has world class facilities, a great enthusiasm for college sports and legendary southern hospitality that will make these games a success," Gov. Roy Cooper wrote on Twitter.

The World University Games Summer, first held in 1959, are for student-athletes ages 18 to 25. There are 15 required sports, including Olympic staples such as track and field, basketball, gymnastics, swimming, tennis, volleyball and water polo. In 2029, baseball, rugby and softball could be added. The proposed dates for the games are July 13 to July 25, but those could change, Hill Carrow, the chairman of the North Carolina Bid Committee told WRAL.

Events will be held in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary and Greensboro. More than 7,000 athletes are expected to compete in 18 sports over a 12-day period at the 2021 games in China. Secretary of State Elaine Marshall said it "will be the largest event ever hosted in our state."

Buffalo, New York hosted the summer games in 1993, the only other U.S. host.

"We are that university region where we celebrate university sports," Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin told WRAL News. "And I think what's going to happen is those athletes are going to come here, feel so welcomed. They're going to feel like they are part of our community."

The state lost its bid to host the 2027 World University Games to Chungcheong, South Korea. But that bid, which FISU staff scored highest on technical evaluation, paved the way for North Carolina to host the 2029 games. Baldwin traveled to Brussels for the 2027 announcement in November.

"We thought we had a great shot at winning this, and it was so disappointing," she said. "They did say to us at that time, 'Well, what about 2029? These things don't happen by chance. It takes planning and hard work, and it really takes making relationships and connections, and I think we have done that with this organization."

Said FISU president Leonz Eder: "We have worked diligently with our membership and staff since that time on the best way to secure North Carolina as a future host of the FISU games."

The organization also hosts winter games, which are being held in Lake Placid, New York, beginning Jan. 12.

Hosting the games is similar to a large corporate relocation in terms of economic impact, said Carrow, the chairman bid Ccmmittee, which is affiliated with the Triangle Sports Commission. He said it will bring about $150 million to the state.

"It's a fantastic feeling being able to bring the games to North Carolina," Carrow told WRAL. He was part of a 15-member delegation in Lake Placid where the vote took place. "It may seem like a long time away, but we actually have to get underway right away to be able to successfully host the games."

Among the potential host venues in Cary are WakeMed Soccer Park, Cary Tennis Park and the USA Baseball National Training Complex, said William Davis, sports venues manager for the town of Cary.

"We host a lot of high-profile events already, so we feel like we're ready," Davis said, citing the NCAA soccer championships, professional tennis tournaments and USA baseball competitions. "For the kids to be able to go out and train on a field and then the next night have a national caliber game on it, it shows these kids it can be down anywhere and it can be in their own backyard."

Said Baldwin: "This puts us on a map we've never been on before."