The FISU headquarters in Lausanne welcome the Torino 2025 Torch Relay - FISU

Oct 22, 2024

The last step of the international journey of the Torino 2025 FISU World University Games Winter Torch coincided with its visit to the International University Sport Federation’s Synathlon building on the Université de Lausanne campus.

The Torch Relay of the Torino 2025 FISU World University Games Winter has reached its last international stage, closing this first phase of the Flame Relay in the Olympic Capital, at the International University Sports Federation (FISU) headquarters in Lausanne, the Olympic Capital.

The Flame – kept inside its lantern – was carried by the President of the Organising Committee of the Torino 2025 FISU Games, Alessandro Ciro Sciretti, to the University of Lausanne, where the Torch was lit and the relay between torchbearers was held before the handover to the hands of FISU President Leonz Eder.

“After carrying the Torch in the streets of Torino right after it was lit on the International Day of University Sport, on 20 September, it is a fantastic feeling to be holding it again, this time in Lausanne where FISU lives and breathes. Our headquarters are situated halfway between the auditoriums and the sports facilities of the University of Lausanne, which is exactly where FISU should be. I am also very proud to share this stage of the Torch Relay with two student-athletes, Robine Deseyn and Matthieu Fauge from my home country Switzerland” commented Leonz Eder.

“Living this day in the heart of the Swiss University System, with the involvement of the University Sports Center, is a source of pride for the Torino 2025 Organising Committee, which will also welcome the Swiss delegation among the guests of the FISW Games. The Torch Tour could only conclude its international journey here in Lausanne, the city that symbolises sport and knowledge” told Alessandro Ciro Sciretti (here with EPFL Associate Vice-President Kathryn Hess Bellwald).

The protocol of the World University Games Torch Relay is divided into three phases, international, national and Piemontese, and involves stages on university campuses and places of cultural and tourist interest. The relay of the international phase started on 23 September in Brussels and travelled to Rabat in Morocco, where Turin and Rhine-Ruhr celebrated the passing of the torch at the FISU Executive Committee Meeting on 26 and 27 September.

An international journey…

On 9 October it returned to Italy for the transition from FISU to FederCUSI at the Foro Italico in Rome, where a meeting was held between the university sports world, represented by FederCUSI, and the Italian National Olympic Committee, in the presence of top Italian sports officials. On 14 October, the Torch marched at the Columbus Day Parade together with the Italian team in New York, and then concluded the international phase of the tour on 22 October at the University and FISU Headquarters in Lausanne.

… before a national one

In November, the Torch will return to Italy with stops in Trento on 29 October, in Milan on 4 November at the headquarters of the Main Sponsors Unicredit and Unicredit Allianz, and on 8 and 9 November in Caivano and Salerno (cities that will host the European University Games 2026).

Also in November, the Piemonte Torch Relay will take place at the main venues of Piemonte’s universities: 8 cities (including Torino) will be involved: Biella (5 November), Vercelli (7 November), Novara (12 November), Alessandria (15 November), Asti (19 November), Mondovì (26 November) and finally Cuneo on 28 November.

In December, it will be the turn of the Games’ host municipalities to welcome the Torch: 10 December in Pinerolo, 12 December in Torre Pellice, 17 December in Pragelato, 20 December in Sestriere and 29 December in Bardonecchia.

Finally, on 13 January 2025, the Torch will return to Torino for the Inauguration Ceremony that will kick off the XXXII FISU World University Games Winter.