Cancellation due to the corona pandemic – the canceled Winter Universiade cost almost 26 million francs – News


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Although the sports event in Lucerne was canceled in winter 2021, the public incurred high costs.

  • Although the 30th Winter Universiade in Lucerne in winter 2021 was canceled due to the corona virus, there were high costs.
  • The approximately 25.9 million Swiss francs are largely borne by the public purse.
  • Various venues nevertheless benefited from investments in infrastructure.

The emergence of the omicron variant of the coronavirus and the associated travel restrictions thwarted the plans of the Winter Universiade organizers. Just two before the opening they had to cancel the event.

Legend:

Wuli, the mascot of the Lucerne Winter Universiade 2021, brought no luck to the games. The World University Games had to be cancelled.

Lucerne 2021 Winter Universiade

With 1,600 students from 54 countries, the 30th edition of the World University Games would have been the largest multi-sport event in winter after the Olympic Games. From December 11th to 21st, 2021, competitions should have been held in ten different sports and at eight different locations, in central Switzerland and Graubünden.

Costs of almost 26 million Swiss francs

Despite the cancellation, more than half of the budgeted costs of almost 42 million francs will be incurred. For example, for already booked accommodation, insurance or event fees. The federal government will assume 10.6 million of the total cost of 25.9 million. The sponsorship of the Winter Universiade, six central Swiss cantons and the city of Lucerne will contribute another 9.9 million. A further CHF 1.4 million is attributable to other public partners.

Despite the cancellation, the regions and sport will benefit in the long term.

The OC President of the Winter Universiade Guido Graf drew a positive balance. “Despite the cancellation, the regions and sport will benefit in the long term,” said the Lucerne social director. Almost 4 million francs went to the venues.

Optimized infrastructure

On the Stoos (SZ), for example, a flood system was installed and the slopes were optimized. In Realp (UR) a new network of cross-country trails has been created. In this way, competitions at an international level can be made possible in the future and the training conditions for the clubs can be improved.

World University Games


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The FISU World University Games – the official name of the Unversiades – are aimed specifically at student athletes. They have been held every two years in winter and summer since 1959 and are organized by the International University Sports Federation (Fisu).

The planned Winter Universiade in Switzerland 2021 was a joint project of the six central Swiss cantons of Lucerne, Uri, Schwyz, Obwalden, Nidwalden and Zug and the city of Lucerne.

The next Winter Games will take place in Lake Placid (USA) in 2023. Yekaterinburg (RUS) was originally planned as the summer venue. In response to the Ukraine war, Fisu revoked the city’s hosting rights and transferred them to Chengdu (CHN).

Those responsible also state that one could also acquire know-how and understanding for the organization of multi-sport events. “We were able to show that an event of this magnitude in Switzerland can be planned decentrally and without the creation of new infrastructure,” said Urs Hunkeler, Managing Director of the Organizing Committee.

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