Colorado Springs has been awarded a pair of major international sports events in Boxing and Softball in the summer of 2012 that will bring more than 300 athletes and officials from 30 nations to the city.
The International University Sports Federation (FISU) announced today at its Executive Committee meeting in Erzurum, Turkey, that Colorado Springs will be the host city for its 2012 World University Championships in Softball (August 2-11) and Boxing (August 2-10), with both sports being held at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.
The events are part of a schedule of 33 winter and summer World University Championships to be conducted in 2012, the largest number in FISU history.
The World Championships are open to all student athletes that have not been out of a university or its equivalent for more than a year and that are between 17 and 28 years old. Any association which belongs to FISU may enter a team or an individual competitor. Entries are accepted from any country which is eligible for the Olympic Games and from any national federation which is affiliated to an appropriate International Federation.
Colorado Springs was awarded the events after a formal presentation from its delegation today, led by El Pomar Foundation CEO & Chairman and USOC President Emeritus Bill Hybl, along with Stan Brassie, Secretary General of the U.S. International University Sports Federation, Colorado Springs Sports Corporation Chairman Dave Palenchar and Sports Corp President and CEO Tom Osborne.
The Colorado Springs bid was presented by the Sports Corp with the support and coordination from the USIUSF, United States Olympic Committee, UCCS, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and El Pomar Foundation.
"This is a significant honor for Colorado Springs and enhances its respected reputation as a superb host for amateur sports events," said Hybl. "Our city and the state of Colorado have a proud legacy of support for the Olympic family and scores of amateur sports events, and we are proud to be able to host these World Championships for athletes from across the world."
"The U.S. Olympic Committee is extremely pleased that FISU has awarded these championships to Colorado Springs," said USOC CEO Scott Blackmun. "This city is dedicated to the Olympic Movement and to the mission and goals of FISU which encourage fair play, friendship and opportunities for youth."
Boxing, for men, will be held at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs' 1,300-seat Gallogly Events Center.
Softball, for women, will be conducted at the University's outstanding Four Diamonds Sports Complex, which has hosted several NCAA Division II playoffs, with a permanent seating capacity of 800.
Athletes and officials will be housed at the Summit Village Residence Halls and Alpine Village Apartments on the campus. Members of the FISU family, International Sport Federations, USA Boxing and USA Softball officials and technical delegates will be staying at the Colorado Springs Marriott north of the city.
"It will be an honor to host these prestigious events at our outstanding campus venues," said UCCS Chancellor Pam Shockley-Zalabak. "We know our University family will support the athletes and officials and welcome them to our campus and the city."
Osborne will be the chairman of the Organizing Committee, which will include representatives of the U.S. International Sports Federation, The Sports Corp, USOC, El Pomar, UCCS, U.S. Air Force Academy, USA Boxing, USA Softball and the City of Colorado Springs.
FISU World University Championships
A series of important FISU events in addition to its World University Winter and Summer Games (Universiade) are the World University Championships. The spreading of the university sport in the world created a new series of meetings and competitions to complete the program of the Universiade. FISU supports the competitions which represent the continuity of university sport and allows the federation to be better known. In 2004, FISU organized 25 World University Championships that attracted 4,845 participants from a total of 186 (of which 90 different) countries. In 2006, FISU staged 27 WUCs attracting 5,852 participants from a total of 209 (of which 90 different) countries and for 2008, 29 WUC were attributed bringing together 6,652 participants from 229 countries (of which 90 different). For 2010, 29 WUC are attributed. WUC Sports Program: Archery - Badminton - Baseball - Beach Volleyball - Bridge - Chess - Cross Country - Cycling - Equestrian - Flat Water Canoeing - Floorball - Futsal - Golf - Handball - Field Hockey - Karate - Match Racing - Orienteering - Rowing - Rugby 7 - Savate - Sailing - Shooting - Softball - Squash - Taekwondo - Triathlon - White Water Canoeing - Waterskiing - Weightlifting - Woodball - Wrestling.
FISU, with headquarters in Brussels, was formed within university institutions in order to promote sporting values and encourage sporting practice in harmony with, and complementary to, the university spirit. To promote sporting values means encouraging friendship, fraternity, fair-play, perseverance, integrity, co-operation and application amongst students who will one day hold responsible, and even key positions in politics, the economy, culture and industry. As allies or competitors, perhaps even as antagonists, these men and women will have learned how to collaborate and confront every eventuality while respecting the ethical code enshrined in these values. Promoting sporting values and sporting practice also means giving a new dimension to the university spirit in study, research, and discipline, through the strong affirmation of the full humanist development of the individual and, thus, of society at large. This development is not just intellectual, but also moral and physical. The current FISU President is George Killian of Colorado Springs.
About Colorado Springs
Tucked up against the front range of the Rocky Mountains in the shadow of 14,000-foot Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs has won a reputation as one of the nation's most attractive places to live. It is also a nationally-known destination for sports.
Colorado Springs is the home of the United States Olympic Committee, its flagship Olympic Training Center, and 22 of the USOC's National Governing Bodies of Olympic sports. All told, the city is home to almost 50 domestic and international sports organizations, as well as the Mountain West Conference, the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, and the United States Anti-Doping Agency.
More than 350,000 athletes have trained in the city for a shot at berths on Olympic, Paralympic, Pan American Games and various U.S. International Teams since the Olympic Training Center opened in 1977.
The city of some 425,000 and metro population of almost 600,000 has developed a tradition as a great sports center, and it gets bigger every year.
The city has hosted hundreds of USOC and National Governing Body events, including three USOC National Sports Festivals (1978, 1979, 1983), Olympic and Pan Am Games Trials, and the World Cycling Championships.
Under the leadership of the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation, the city has hosted the State Games of America in 2005, 2007 and 2009, with almost 35,000 athletes from across the nation competing in more than 30 sports.
The USOC has opened a brand-new headquarters downtown and has announced that it will retain its presence in the city for at least the next 30 years. The USOC has also revealed an ambitious slate of major meetings scheduled for the city in 2011 and beyond.
Sports fans also enjoy the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox baseball team of the Pacific Coast League, the annual Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, the Pikes Peak Or Bust Rodeo, Air Force Academy football and ice hockey, the powerful Colorado College Tigers' ice hockey team of the WCHA, the nation's premier NCAA Division I conference, NCAA Division II sports at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, NCAA Division I women's soccer at Colorado College, and top high school sports.
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