Representatives with the International University Sports Federation (FISU) were in the Triangle this week assessing possible host sites for the 2029 Summer World University Games.
The World University Games – considered to be the “Olympics” for top college and university athletes from around the world – will take place at venues throughout central North Carolina from July 11 through July 22 in 2029.
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The events are expected to bring $370 million to the local economy, generated through the 600,000 expected spectators, 7,500 athletes and a global broadcast audience.
"The scale of this is much larger than even an Olympic festival," said Hill Carrow, chairman & CEO of the North Carolina USA 2029 World University Games. "It’ll be the largest event by far in North Carolina.
"It'll be basically a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to showcase our state, our people, the things we're most proud of here in North Carolina."
The games are held every two years in a different city.
According to FISU, public and private universities at North Carolina's major metro areas are in the "proposal stages" of collaborations for the 2029 games.
Representatives are currently on a 15-day visit to the Triad, Triangle and Charlotte to look at possible sites for the 2029 games.
Wake Forest University and University of North Carolina campuses across the state could be apart of the operations, including housing for athletes. Athlete housing would resemble Olympic Villages, but would mostly consist of university housing.
On Wednesday, sport management teams looked at venues in the Raleigh area.
When WRAL asked what goes into choosing facilities, representatives said they looked for quality and comfort to support the athletes, including dressing rooms, safety and security.
Carrow said, “We’re going to be using much of south campus and much of north campus at (The University of North) Carolina.”
The statewide event is expected to cost around $100 million, which could be funded by federal grants and private dollars. Organizers expect that fans will pump an expected $370 million into the local economy.
The Winter World University Games have been held in the United States twice - in 1972 and 2023 in Lake Placid.
The Summer World University Games have not been held in the United States since 1993 when they were held in New York.
The games are held over 12 days and include 15 sports.
The 12-day FISU World University Games competition includes 15 compulsory sports, including para-sports.
The next FISU Summer World University Games will take place in South Korea in August 2027.
North Carolina showed up big at last year's Summer World University Games in Germany.
Daniel Diehl won gold in the men's 200-meter breast stroke.
Leah Shackley, a rising sophomore at NC State, won six medals -- 5 of them gold -- at the games, and she set a World University Games record in the women’s 50-meter backstroke with a time of 27:66.
For now, FISU will continue touring facilities across the state and working on negotiations with universities and municipalities.