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North Carolina got a second chance to host the World University Games, two months after losing a bid to host the 2027 event, and part of the games will take place in Alamance County.
The International University Sports Federation announced Tuesday that the state will host the games in 2029, skipping the usual bidding process on the strength of North Carolina’s original pitch to host in the Triangle and Triad.
Elon University was a late addition to North Carolina’s bid last summer. The bid projected using Elon’s track and field facilities as a practice site, though the competitions would be held at N.C. A&T in Greensboro, and possibly the Schar Center for volleyball and other events.
The 2021 edition of the event, held in China, included more than 7,000 college athletes competing in 18 sports over 12 days.
Organizers predict the games could generate between $150 million and $350 million for the state.
A delegation from North Carolina traveled to Lake Placid, N.Y., this week ahead of the winter version of the event there to restate its case to host. The bid committee had secured $25 million in state funding for the 2027 bid, according to bid chairman Hill Carrow.
FISU president Leonz Eder issued a statement explaining the reason behind the announcement.
“The (2027) North Carolina USA Bid, in fact, scored the highest on our staff technical evaluation of the bids,” Eder said. “Even though North Carolina did not win the 2027 FISU Games last fall, we have worked diligently with our membership and staff since that time on the best way to secure North Carolina USA as a future host of the FISU Games.”
This will be the first time the United States will host the summer version of the games since 1993, when they were held Buffalo.
The bid includes the use of school facilities at Duke, Durham Tech, Meredith, North Carolina A&T, N.C. Central, N.C. State, Shaw, St. Augustine’s, North Carolina, UNC Greensboro, Wake Tech and William Peace in addition to Elon.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
