Team USA is planning its trip to Rhine-Ruhr for the FISU World University Games (former Summer Universiade) in the summer of 2025. Lori Thomas is the Executive Director of the federation “UniUSA” and plays a big part of the overall planning. She tells us how Team USA selects its athletes, why the United States has higher ambitions than at previous events and how they’re able to transport a row boat and other large equipment to Germany.
You come from the United States. You can be honest: Have you ever heard about the Rhine-Ruhr region before?
So, here’s a fun fact: I actually played professional volleyball in Kieldrecht, Belgium, which is only three hours from the Rhine River. But to be honest, I had not been familiar with the Rhine-Ruhr region. Most people in the United States just know the big European cities like Brussels, Amsterdam, Paris or Frankfurt.
Are you excited about travelling to Germany for the World University Games?
Yes, I am! Every World University Games is special and to see so many student-athletes compete from all over the world is incredible. I need to extend my time to see the beautiful country.
What do you expect from the region beyond the multisport event? You must expect a lot if you want to go there for a holiday too.
There’s so much history and so much culture. We really think it’s important for our student athletes to not just go over and compete but to experience and understand the culture. In addition to what the local organizing committee organizes, we also try to add a unique experience for our athletes.
It seems like you’re already planning a lot. When preparing for the World University Games, your federation works together with an agency for the logistic fields. Why?
Many people do not understand how big the states are. It is a 42-hour-drive from the East Coast to the West Coast. We’re not all in one location where we’re going into the same office. The US federation is placed in different areas to represent all regions of our country. BTI Events oversees the logistical planning for all athletes.
What is the division of responsibilities in this case?
The federation and BTI Events work together to identify and select the athletes and teams. Once the athletes are chosen, BTI Events has great experience with managing registrations, accreditations, airline tickets, medical team and USA staffing.
They obviously have a lot on their plate. How many people in total will be involved in the process of planning the logistical aspects?
There are maybe eight to ten people in the early stages. This includes the US federation and BTI Events. With medical, US office and federation staff, we’re probably in that 25 range of people that will be in Rhine-Ruhr in summer 2025.
When did you start preparing for the World University Games in Rhine-Ruhr?
The moment that we find out where it is, we start planning. BTI Events immediately go to the host site to look around to see where venues, hospital, hotels are and to understand local transportation.
Could you provide an overview of what you’re working on right now?
Right now, our efforts are about finding and contracting with teams and athletes along with solidifying medical team and coaches. We are also looking at easiest flights and from what cities, while working with the host city to learn and understand the organization of the event.
The United States plays a huge role in the world of sports. At big events, it always sends a huge number of athletes. How many athletes do you anticipate will compete for Team USA at the World University Games 2025?
I would say on average for World University Summer Games, we’re in the 600 range. But this time we believe that we could have more athletes because of the ease of travel. It’s easier for us to get to Europe than, for example, to Asia. I would like to see us with 650 to 700 athletes in Rhine-Ruhr.
How are all these athletes selected?
Our goal is to have a selection of athletes that will compete at a high level with potential of medaling. There are a lot of people, who want to compete but we are trying to bring the best athletes. In our system, every sport has a governing body. The USA governing bodies have the first right of refusal. We go to their leadership and ask if they would like to send a team to the World University Games. USA Swimming is one where they send many athletes as this is a great experience and potential preparation to the US Olympic teams. The World University Games are very similar to the Olympics so it is a great foundation to have that type of competition.
How does this work in team sports? Is it about the best university team or the best individual players?
We prefer not mixing the teams. I personally think, we’re more successful if we choose teams, which play together all the year. But if a governing body says, “I want to put a team together”, he could pick from one and another university.
In which sports do you plan to have all these athletes?
Our goal is to compete in every sport that is offered as it is a priority to have as many athletes experience this level of competition along with enjoying the experience and cultural exchange.
In the USA, there are over 500 airports. Will Team USA depart together as a group, or will all athletes depart from different airports?
It would be extremely difficult to have everyone fly out of the same city due to location. It would drive costs up to try and get everyone out of one place. Athletes will depart from where they are currently living. Each city also has different airlines as their primary hub so you have to balance cost, location and ease of travel.
Is that also the reason why you won’t fly on charter flights? Other nations regularly travel with charter flights.
Yes, that’s true. The biggest issue is that everyone competes on different days so not everyone comes in and out of the host city at the same time. We enable our athletes to depart at different times, which is quite comfortable for them. If you’re the first couple days of competition, you can come in earlier to get adjusted. But it is important to have all athletes there for the opening ceremony.
Once on site, all these athletes must be housed. Next year there’s a special solution: Instead of an athletes’ village, athletes will be housed in hotels. It’s a quite sustainable solution and good for the environment, but how does this affect the social aspect?
When you’re all in one location, it’s a cultural experience of meeting people from all over the world. In the current case, the local organizing committee will have to increase the opportunities for social experiences. In addition to that, it’s harder for staff. We have to be really creative about where we’re going to station our medical staff.
How does the lack of an athletes’ village limit the special atmosphere athletes talked about at previous events?
It will be a different experience as they will not all be in one place but most of these athletes are experiencing the World University Games for the first time. So, they will not know any different. It will still be an incredible experience!
Will you personally miss this atmosphere?
I’ve been to five, I think it might be six Games now. Most of those have been in Asia, where they just build a full athletes’ village from the ground up. When there is one athletes’ village, it is a small community where there are snack stations, mailroom, barber shop and everyone eats at the same place. It is very impressive but it does not mean that it will be less of an experience if you are spread out. There will still be plenty of opportunities to meet and have cultural experiences with others.
Considering two long-haul flights, several nights in hotels and food, there will be significant costs. Will athletes have to cover any of these costs themselves?
It depends on the sport. Every governing body has a different funding mechanism. It all depends on how they look at this competition. On the one hand, USA Swimming takes this very seriously, they use this as a platform for those athletes to potentially be in the Olympics. Therefore, they place a high value on the games. On the other hand, there are some that have to fundraise to cover their costs.
Will there be more costs because of the decentralized accommodation in Rhine-Ruhr?
I would say yes because you need to bring more staff members to cover all areas. More staff means more flights, lodging and meals. We are also trying to understand public transportation as that may be the means to moving around between venues. We do not how busy that is and how many people are going to be using ground transportation. Due to competition start times, there is not flexibility if there are delays. There is the possibility of hiring transportation which will be a higher cost.
Athletes won’t fly there for a holiday, they want to compete in their sports, and therefore they need their equipment. How can, for example, a rowing boat get transported?
You can’t just show up at the airport with your row boat. (laughs) You do have to fill out information and register your equipment ahead of time. But typically, there are no issues as long as you complete the necessary paperwork.
Their outfits will allow athletes to represent their country, flag and colors. Before every major competition, there’s an outfitting process. In what way is this moment or the outfitting so special for athletes?
It makes them feel it’s big time! A lot of these student athletes are really, really good, but may never make it to the Olympics. But at this moment, you’re getting a sweat suit, uniforms, backpack, shoes, socks, hats with USA on them… and then you walk in to Opening Ceremonies, and you’re going to represent your country. It’s a special moment for sure, it’s their Olympic experience!
Let’s have a look into the future. In 2029 the United States, and especially North Carolina, will host the World University Games. When travelling to Germany, will you pay attention to something special you could maybe bring back?
We’re going to have our eyes everywhere! Planning big events is always about learning from others. You go to every Games and just say what can I take away? What can I bring back to North Carolina? But we won’t walk into 2025, waiting for a plan for 2029. North Carolina is working very hard right now to make this incredible.
When I had a look at the medal table in Chengdu 2021, it was hard to find Team USA. 24th place and just one gold medal couldn’t have been the goal for a nation which is usually near or at the top of the rankings. What’s the explanation?
We work very hard trying to bring our best athletes, but sometimes it is difficult due to the university structure as it is really different. We have regular scheduled contests and national championships and it is not uncommon for 20,000 people to attend a university basketball game. That’s why we spend a lot of time educating universities why the World University Games exist. The best reference I can give is I say it is an Olympic experience for student-athletes.
Are you more optimistic for the upcoming Games in Germany and your own in North Carolina?
Definitely! Both Games will be in July, when our athletes don’t have any competitions in their university system. The Games in Rhine-Ruhr will be a good test for us of what it should look like when we bring our best athletes. Because the 2029 games will be in the US and during summer, we should bring the best USA team.
Interview by Jonas Faustmann
Herkunftsort: Karlsruhe
Studienstandort: Tübingen
Funfact: Mein Vater hat an Nikolaus Geburtstag und meine Mutter an Weihnachten.
Wenn du bei den WUG 2025 teilnehmen würdest, in welcher Sportart? Badminton
- “You can’t just show up at the airport with your row boat” - 15. Februar 2024