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At the 2021 Winter Universiade, athletes from 50 countries competed in ten disciplines in Central Switzerland. Due to the coronavirus, the event is canceled this year. There is still an open move.
The Wuli mascot will not be used in January 2021.
The air was getting thinner and thinner for the Winter Universiade in Central Switzerland and now finally too thin: After several major events were canceled for next year, the Universiade had to surrender to the coronavirus. “After more than four years of preparation, it is a painful decision, but in the end easy. The health of all participants was always the top priority in our evaluations, ”says Guido Graf, President of the Organizing Committee and Lucerne Health Director. Unfortunately, there are no prospects for major changes in the epidemiological situation in the coming months.
A total of 1600 athletes should have made a pilgrimage to the world’s second largest multisport event in January 2021. With the exception of biathlon and ski orientation, which should have been held in Lenzerheide, the Winter Universiade would have been held in Switzerland Central. Alpine skiing in Stoos, cross-country skiing in Andermatt, curling, freestyle skiing and snowboarding in Engelberg, ice hockey in Zug and Sursee and figure skating and short track in Lucerne were planned. In addition, 500 media professionals and 3,800 volunteers were expected throughout Central Switzerland.
“The cancellation is also a severe blow to the hotel industry in the city of Lucerne,” says Urs Hunkeler, Managing Director of the Winter Universiade 2021. As the host city, all delegations, with the exception of Andermatt and Lenzerheide, will be have transferred to accommodation in the city of Lucerne. The opening, medal and closing ceremonies must also take place at Europaplatz. To do this, a Universiade Park should have been built in front of the KKL.
Will it work with a postponement until 2023?
“However, there was no alternative to cancellation, health first,” emphasizes Peter Föhn. Föhn is the CO-President of the Stoos Organizing Committee. In addition to the epidemiological situation, entry restrictions in particular were too great an obstacle. Under the current status, 40 percent of the participants would not have been allowed to enter Switzerland. Large delegations such as the United States, Russia or China would be affected, the international university sports association Fisu, OK and Swiss University Sports announced on Monday. However, what they did not communicate is a postponement date. Only now is a possible postponement to a later time being verified.
It is unclear how feasible this is due to the already tight schedule and lack of accommodation in Lake Placid (site of the 2023 Universiade). “I sincerely hope it is postponed,” says Föhn, “for the next three years. Otherwise, I will no longer be able to fill my position as President OK. I don’t want to commit for so long and ‘mä isch au nümmä 20i’ “.
For the Muotathaler, a postponement to January 2023 and a simultaneous Lake Placid slide to 2025 would make more sense, as it has worked at every wrestling festival. “But so far it has been difficult in this case,” he laments.
A year earlier, in the winter of 2022, there would be a clash with the Winter Olympics. Föhn expects the decision at the end of October. A final cancellation would be a shame, especially for the region and aides, says the former Council of States Föhn. “This commitment must not be lost.”
Postponement carries additional costs
In addition to epidemiological considerations, financial possibilities also play a role in the event of postponement. “Right now we are checking with our donors and sponsors if we can continue to work together in the future,” says Urs Hunkeler, Managing Director of the Winter Universiade 2021. The budget for the big event is 39 million Swiss francs. In addition to sponsors, the OC also receives funding from the federal government, the respective cantons, and the city of Lucerne. Hunkeler was unable to provide any information on the financial impact of the non-implementation in January 2021. The postponement generates additional costs that cannot yet be quantified, he said. To date, almost a third of the budgeted money has been used.
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