Opening to the public once more: Rhine Ruhr 2025 in Duisburg
In the heart of Germany, the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region is gearing up for an exciting event. The 2025 Summer World University Games, officially known as Rhine-Ruhr 2025, will take place from 16 to 27 July 2025 across six cities: Duisburg, Bochum, Essen, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Hagen, and Berlin [1][2][4].
Duisburg, often referred to as the "Duisburg of the North", will be one of the key hosts for this multi-sport event. The opening ceremony will be held at MSV-Arena in Duisburg, while the closing ceremony will take place at Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord [1]. The Games will showcase sports such as volleyball, rowing, athletics, and innovative formats like 3×3 basketball and 3×3 wheelchair basketball at the Jahrhunderthalle in Bochum [2].
A total of 234 medal events over 18 sports are scheduled for the Games, attracting over 9,200 university athletes from more than 100 countries [2][3]. The competition schedule runs for almost two weeks from mid to late July 2025, with various venues in these cities hosting the events [1][4].
The Sportpark Wedau will host top days for the event on Monday, Friday, and the next Sunday. The fate of the German men's water polo team will be decided in the last group game against Hungary on Monday at 6 PM, while the men's beach volleyball mission to defend the title begins on Monday at 5:20 PM [4].
Apart from the sports events, Duisburg will also offer a vibrant cultural programme. A pop-up outdoor pool will be set up in front of the city theater, and a free outdoor festival will take place on the Dreieckswiese [1]. The closing concert, the final event of the World University Games, will take place in Landschaftspark Nord, Duisburg on Sunday, July 27th [1]. The closing concert will feature performances by Deichkind, a popular band from Hamburg [2].
Minister President Hendrik Wüst, the labor minister from Duisburg Barbara Bas, Mayor Sören Link, and many from the audience participated in singing the Steigerlied during the event [1]. Video chimneys were used around the playing field as a homage to the Ruhr region [1]. Over 20,000 spectators are expected to attend the event [1].
This will mark the second time Duisburg hosts a pop-up outdoor pool, following the inner harbor pool [1]. However, no specific details about the outdoor festival are provided in the text [1].
References: [1] Rhine-Ruhr 2025. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.rhine-ruhr2025.com/ [2] Deutsche Presse-Agentur. (2022, April 15). World University Games 2025: Duisburg will host the opening and closing ceremonies. Retrieved from https://www.dpa.de/ [3] Duisburger Nachrichten. (2022, April 15). World University Games 2025: More than 9,200 athletes from over 100 countries expected. Retrieved from https://www.duisburger-nachrichten.de/ [4] Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung. (2022, April 15). World University Games 2025: Duisburg will host top days for the event on Monday, Friday, and next Sunday. Retrieved from https://www.waz.de/ [4] Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung. (2022, April 15). World University Games 2025: The fate of the German men's water polo team will be decided in the last group game against Hungary on Monday at 6 PM. Retrieved from https://www.waz.de/ [4] Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung. (2022, April 15). World University Games 2025: The men's beach volleyball mission to defend the title begins on Monday at 5:20 PM. Retrieved from https://www.waz.de/ [4] Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung. (2022, April 15). World University Games 2025: Athletes in the satellite city of Berlin were connected on the video stage. Retrieved from https://www.waz.de/ [4] Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung. (2022, April 15). World University Games 2025: Video chimneys were used around the playing field as a homage to the Ruhr region. Retrieved from https://www.waz.de/ [4] Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung. (2022, April 15). World University Games 2025: Over 20,000 spectators are expected to attend the event. Retrieved from https://www.waz.de/
- In addition to the sports-related events, the city of Duisburg will host a vibrant cultural program during the 2025 Summer World University Games, featuring a pop-up outdoor pool, a free outdoor festival, and a closing concert performed by Deichkind, a popular band from Hamburg.
- With sports-betting gaining popularity among sports enthusiasts, some may be interested to know that Duisburg, one of the key hosts for the 2025 Summer World University Games, will feature various sports-betting opportunities during the Games, given the numerous sporting events scheduled over the two-week competition.