The 2025 Rhine-Ruhr World University Games opened on Wednesday at the Schauinsland Reisen Arena in Duisburg, Germany, the same stadium that staged the curtain-raiser for the 1989 edition of the Universiade.

German Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Barbel Bas officially opened the 32nd FISU Summer Universiade, which is co-hosted by six cities including Berlin, Essen, Duisburg, Bochum, Mülheim an der Ruhr, and Hagen, mainly located in the Rhine-Ruhr region.

The opening ceremony began at 8:15 PM and ended at 11:00 PM local time, starting with the overture "Now and Together." The composition, created by Jan Loechel for the 2025 FISU World University Games, was performed by the WDR Funkhaus Orchestra.

FISU President Leonz Eder delivered the opening speech. "I wish you very success at the competitions, which will be unforgettable experiences and relished wealth in your life," he said.

The ceremony opted to underline the competition's character, combining classical music, big board sound, and modern band performance in an impressive scenography with the defining element being music.

Recalling the Ruhr area's industrial history was a fundamental conceptual thread of the opener. The stage was surrounded by six huge chimney-shaped LED towers on the pitch, functioning as the cornerstones of the arena.

The ceremony managed to create a connection between the region's past and future. Approximately 500 people, primarily retired miners and school choir members, sang in chorus the "Steigerlied," a folk song popularized by German miners.

The spectators contributed rhythmic hand-clapping throughout the parade of athletes as volunteers escorted the leading groups heading into the stadium, holding banners saying "no Games without U."

State of North Rhine-Westphalia Minister-President Hendrik Wust gave a welcoming speech, saying "University Games are a celebration of respect, tolerance and friendship. I hope this theory spreads around the world driven by your experiences. Each and every one of you is invited to be an ambassador of friendship and peace."

The big screen broadcast a brief look back at the flag-handover performance for the 2025 Games, which took place during the closing ceremony in the Chinese city of Chengdu in 2023.

The flame arrived at the stadium in the hands of Heide Ecker-Rosendahl, the women's long jump gold medalist from the 1972 Munich Summer Olympics. She passed it on to six other athletes, who proceeded to approach the nearby LED towers.

The flames slowly rose virtually, accompanied by the anthem "Now and Together." At the climax of the Jan Loechet song, real flames were ignited on the six towers, representing each of the co-host cities for the 2025 Rhine-Ruhr World University Games.

At the end of the opening ceremony, the flames from the towers were transferred into six mining lamps.

The Rhine-Ruhr Games will feature over 9,200 participants from more than 150 countries and regions competing from July 16-27.

Host nation Germany is represented by its largest delegation ever: 305 athletes and 177 team officials.