On 15th July, a press conference was held before the Polish national team left for Germany for the 32nd Summer FISU World University Games in Rhine-Ruhr. The event was attended by Prof. Alojzy Z. Nowak, Rector of the University of Warsaw and President of the Academic Sports Association (AZS). “Achieve success, fulfil your dreams, win medals and make new friends. We are extremely proud of you,” he said.

On 16th July, the 32nd Rhine-Ruhr FISU World University Games 2025 will begin in Duisburg, Germany. Among more than 8,000 student-athletes from around the world, there will be Polish Academic Team consisting of nearly 230 members. They will compete in German arenas for medals in 15 sports disciplines. The Polish team includes ten students from the University of Warsaw and members of the UW’s Academic Sports Association (AZS).

A day before the Polish national team’s departure to Germany, a press conference was held in the Platinum Skybox of the PGE National Stadium at 12 pm on 15th July. The event was attended by, among others, Piotr Borys, the Deputy Minister of Sport and Tourism, Prof. Alojzy Z. Nowak, the Rector of the University of Warsaw and President of the Academic Sports Association (AZS), Dariusz Piekut, the head of the Polish FISU World University Games Mission, Katarzyna Węgrzyn and Łukasz Cimosz, the two ensigns of the Polish Academic National Team for the opening ceremony of the FISU World University Games, and a group of several dozen Polish athletes.

Dreams and consistency

“We are extremely proud of you. Remember – to succeed in sport, you need to have dreams, be consistent and – most importantly – be able to pick yourself up when those dreams do not quite come true, when you do not immediately win a medal. You can do that. You are a beautiful and important part of society,” Prof. Alojzy Z. Nowak, Rector of the UW and President of the Academic Sports Association (AZS), said at the event.

Two years ago, the Polish athletes brought home 43 medals from Chengdu in China.

“We dream of repeating that result, but we know that representatives of other countries also have medal plans. In addition to medals and success, what is important is that sport also provides an opportunity to build relationships for the future. Thank you very much to everyone who supports you,” added Prof. Alojzy Z. Nowak.

The Summer FISU World University Games is the biggest celebration of student sport in the world, gathering thousands of competing athletes every two years. Winter FISU World University Games are also held in the same years – at the beginning of 2025, the Polish athletes in and around Turin won 14 medals. A total of 604 medals have been won by Polish student athletes throughout history, including equally 400 at the summer FISU World University Games.

The 32nd Summer FISU World University Games will begin on 16th July and will be held in two regions of Germany – Rhine-Ruhr and Berlin. The event will conclude on 27th July.