Winter Universiade 2021 Cancelled
The 30th Winter Universiade, which was to open on 11 December 2021 in Lucerne, will not be taking place. In the light of highly dynamic developments in the pandemic and related incoming travel restrictions, it will now not be possible to hold the largest multi-sport event for student- athletes.
The Lucerne 2021 Winter Universiade, which was to take place from 11 to 21 December 2021 in Central Switzerland and the Grisons, has been cancelled. "We are devastated and very sorry that we will not be able to welcome the athletes from all over the world, who have been preparing intensively for their competitions," says OC President Guido Graf.
The newly discovered Omicron variant of the virus has been classed as concerning by the WHO. In order to prevent proliferation of the new variant in Switzerland and/or to suppress it, the Swiss Federal Government has amongst other measures enacted incoming travel restrictions for a range of countries, which have now been placed on the quarantine list. As a result of these official restrictions, the Lucerne 2021 Winter Universiade can no longer take place. First and foremost, the measures will impact the delegations taking part in the Winter Universiade. To date Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, Israel and Czech Republic are affected by the 10-day quarantine. Other countries are very likely to be added. Secondly, the incoming travel restrictions will apply to specialist personnel required for multiple aspects of the event such as Timing & Scoring or TV Production.
"We are incredibly sad that we will not be able to hold this great event and would like to thank everyone who has worked and invested so much over the past years. We are convinced that Lucerne 2021 will leave a long-term legacy for Swiss sport despite the cancellation. For example, almost 50 legacy projects were launched or implemented around the Winter Universiade in areas such as strengthening dual careers, sports infrastructure, sports development or innovation in Swiss sport, says Mike Kurt, President of Swiss University Sports.
