World University Games
University of Wuppertal plays along
Mascot Wanda knows: sport, science and intercultural exchange are closely linked at the World University Games from 16 to 27 July. // Photo State of NRW / Jutta Prechtel
Opening programme with UNI Choir
When the World University Games open on 16 July in Duisburg's Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena, 40 singers from the Wuppertal UNI Choir will also be part of the show. Accompanied by the WDR Funkhausorchester and together with singers from other NRW universities, the members of the Wuppertal UNI Choir will sing the national anthem, the Steigerlied and the student anthem Gaudeamus igitur to get the audience and the athletes in the mood for the two-week multi-sport event. "It's great for us to be part of such an important event," says choirmaster Christoph Spengler. The instrumental accompaniment by the Funkhaus Orchestra makes the performance particularly appealing for his ensemble.
In addition to the internal rehearsals at the university, the singers have two more rehearsals in Duisburg before the opening show, before the big celebration takes place on Wednesday evening, which the organisers say is full of surprises, offers a grandiose atmosphere of light and music as well as impressive performances by various artists.
The pieces are not from the pop genre that the UNI Choir is used to. But no problem for the vocal professionals: they quickly grooved to the Steigerlied, which was unknown to most. "Alongside our final concerts, this performance will definitely be a highlight at the end of the semester and a great memory for our community!" emphasises Spengler.
The UNI Choir rehearsed three new songs for the opening ceremony during the semester // Photo Marylen Reschop
Park Festival in Essen
As part of the World University Games, the Park Festival in Essen will combine sport, culture and community in the setting of Grugapark from 21 to 26 July. In addition to the sporting competitions, visitors can look forward to a varied programme of live performances and interactive experiences. Right in the middle of it all: the University of Wuppertal. In the Discover festival zone, UniSport, the International Centre, the Sentral Student Guidance and Ccounselling Services, the Language Learning Institute, the Green Lion Racing Team and the Green Chemistry working group will be inviting visitors to take part in various activities, exchange ideas and get to know each other. The programme includes sports challenges, language quizzes, mini-games, calligraphy, sustainable chemistry experiments, the exhibition of an electric kart, racing simulators and advice on the courses on offer at BUW.
"This major event offers us a unique opportunity to strengthen the visibility of our university nationally and internationally and to use the momentum of the games to sustainably position the university of Wuppertal as a sporting and academic driving force," explains Dennis Fink, Head of UniSports at the University of Wuppertal.
Backstage BUW at the World University Games
In the latest Backstage BUW podcast episode, Lena Siekerkotte and Birger Hense get us in the mood for the World University Games. The rower knows what it means for top student athletes to be part of the competitions - she qualified for the 2023 Games in Chengdu, China. The UniSport employee is involved in the preparations for the Games from minute one - he provides insights into the organisational commitment surrounding the major event and reports on the activities with which the University of Wuppertal is doing its part to make the Games a success. To the episode.
Fink, his colleagues in UniSport and those at the other participating university institutions have been looking forward to the games for months. Highlights on the way to the event included the ceremonial signing of the cooperation agreement as the first official partner university of the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games, receiving the torch as part of the award ceremony for top athletes at the Campus Summer Festival and its presentation at the Wuppertal Suspension Railway Run, the country partnership with Slovakia and, finally, cheering on the BUW's top athletes on their way to qualifying for the Games. Although they will not be able to take part for various reasons, some students from the University of Wuppertal will be involved in the event. How? More on that later.
Research for female competitive sport
As a major sporting event, the World University Games offer many starting points for research. A total of six research projects from various universities will be carried out during the Games. One of these is headed by Prof Dr Kirsten Legerlotz. In her work, the sports scientist from the University of Wuppertal is focussing on the effects of the menstrual cycle on the athletic performance of girls and women, among other things. "A large proportion of the female athletes surveyed subjectively perceive their performance in training and competition to be limited in certain phases of their cycle," says Legerlotz, summarising previous findings.
Top-class sport in harmony with the cycle: the BUW team wants to use the findings from the survey to support female athletes in their training planning. // Photo FISU
She is using the World University Games to investigate this further. Together with her study team, she asks in which cycle/contraceptive phase and in what way the athletes' competition performance is influenced and how the athletes subjectively perceive the connection between hormone status and competition performance. The actual competition performance is also recorded. "The results of the study should help to better inform female athletes about the effect of hormones on their performance so that they can better plan and control their training and competition in terms of self-empowerment," says Legerlotz. After all, taking the menstrual cycle into account in the organisation and timing of training has the potential to maximise adaptation effects and competition performance in female competitive sport.
Female athletes will be interviewed at the Lohrheide Stadium in Bochum during athletics events, while rowing on the regatta course at Duisburg Sports Park and swimming in the indoor swimming and diving centre at Europasportpark in Berlin.
Wuppertal volunteers at the World University Games
Students at the University of Wuppertal were able to have their work as a volunteer at the World University Games recognised as part of their studies. A university seminar on the topic of volunteering at major events and official training from the organisers prepared them for their tasks. Now 15 BUW students are helping at the opening and closing ceremonies, for example, welcoming visitors from all over the world, accompanying the sports competitions or reporting on the numerous programme items of the two-week event as part of the media team.
One of them is Dennis Kern, who is studying a combined bachelor's degree in biology and sport and is full of anticipation: "Being able to look behind the scenes of such a major sporting event and helping to make this event possible with my support is not only a unique opportunity for me to gain important experience for my future career, but also a great and motivating feeling. I particularly enjoy working with volunteers from all over the world and the direct contact with the visitors."
No spectacle without the numerous volunteers who met for the first time in Essen to kick off their training: BUW students are also supporting the games as volunteers in various roles // Photo Rhine-Ruhr 2025 / Andrea Bowinkelmann
About the FISU World University Games
Until 2020, the current World University Games ran under the title Universiade. They take place every two years - this year from 16 to 27 July - and are being held in Germany for the first time since 1989. The 33rd edition welcomes top student athletes to the Rhine-Ruhr region and the German capital: a total of 8,500 athletes and officials from around 150 countries are expected in Bochum, Duisburg, Essen, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Hagen and Berlin. Visitors can look forward to a great mix of events that combine sport, culture and science. In addition to 18 sports, the supporting programme offers festival vibes and an international science congress on the key topics of (mental) health and sustainability in and through sport.
All information on the programme, sports venues and tickets can be found on the official website of the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games.
