The International University Sports Federation (FISU), announced its joint decision with the Lucerne 2021 Organising Committee to hold the Winter Universiade from 11 to 21 December 2021, in Central Switzerland and Lenzerheide. Since late August, the organisers had halted preparations for the 30th edition of this unique event, initially scheduled to take place in January 2021, and looked into the possibility of postponing it, due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

“We are extremely pleased that the Winter Universiade 2021 can still take place, in spite of the pandemic-induced postponement,” said FISU President Oleg Matytsin. “After very careful consultation between all relevant stakeholders, including the six cantons of Central Switzerland, we mutually agreed to hold the event in December 2021.” 

“We worked closely with our national member federations as well as the six International Federations governing the sports of the Winter Games. December 2021 had emerged as the strongest possibility for rescheduling the Games,” said FISU Secretary General-CEO Eric Saintrond.

“After detailed deliberations on the very tight international sports calendar, and several rounds of discussions, we agreed with the Organising Committee that the Games will now be held from 11 to 21 December 2021.”

“This year has been dramatically affected by the COVID-19 pandemic,” added the FISU SG-CEO. “The ripple effects will be felt in the international sports calendar over the next year or more. We had to keep in mind the current situation, national budgeting and international sport calendars.”

“It was only thanks to enormous commitment and good collaboration between the cantons, the city of Lucerne and the main stakeholders in the sports industry and the region that we were able to present FISU with this proposal to postpone the event,” explained President of the Organising Committee and Cantonal Councillor of Lucerne, Guido Graf. 

The Winter Universiade is the largest winter multisport event for university student-athletes. In December 2021, the 30th edition of this event will take place as a joint project of the six cantons of Central Switzerland: Lucerne, Uri, Schwyz, Obwalden, Nidwalden and Zug, as well as the city of Lucerne. The programme will comprise competitions in ten sporting disciplines held at seven venues and include the FIS disciplines of Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Freestyle, Freeski and Snowboard.

Further information on the Lucerne 2021 Winter Universiade can be found at: www.winteruniversiade2021.ch