On the 25th anniversary of the death of the creator of the Universiade Primo Nebiolo, the Torch of the FISU Games shines with an even brighter light to remember a fundamental figure in the world of World University Sport.
Vercelli, 7 November 2024 – Second stop on the Piemonte Tour for the Torino 2025 FISU World University Games Torch, which today arrived in Vercelli, the city with the highest concentration of rice in the world and home to the Science Pole and the Humanities Pole of the University of Eastern Piemonte, where it was welcomed by over 500 students.
The first of the 20 torchbearers who alternated along the route was the Deputy Mayor of Vercelli Domenico Sabatino, who was joined by, among others, the UPO Rector Menico Rizzi, the Hon. Alessandro Giglio Vigna, the Director General of the University Andrea Turolla, the President of Cus Piemonte Orientale Alice Cometti and the Fencing champion Elisa Uga (CUS Pavia). Mayor Roberto Scheda was also present.
“Today, on the 25th anniversary of Primo Nebiolo’s passing, the torch of the Torino 2025 FISU World University Games arrives in Vercelli as a symbol of a deep bond with world university sport, honouring a figure who marked the history of this movement” said Deputy Mayor Domenico Sabatino. “It is a gesture in which we are honoured to participate, because it promotes the commitment to the future of young athletes and to a more inclusive and international sporting world“.
7 November is particularly significant in the history of the Universiade and Italian sport in general: 25 years ago today, Primo Nebiolo left us, the historic athlete and one of the most influential leaders in the world of international sport who changed the future of the University Sports Movement, giving life to the Universiade, now the FISU Games. A memory that is always alive and a legacy that the world of university sport will always remember with great pride.
After Vercelli, the Torch will continue its tour at the university poles and the excellences of the territorial districts of the Region, which are involved and promoted in the Universiade event through the passage of the tour that will move by touching the University campus and detached campus with the aim of fostering interaction and synergy with the stakeholders of the territory, becoming an opportunity to enhance the research system and local, interregional and transnational research and innovation projects.
These are the next stops on the calendar on 12 November in Novara, known as the capital of Gorgonzola and become the centre of major production of the famous blue cheese, will welcome the Torch at the Medicine Department of the University of Eastern Piemonte; on 15 November in Alessandria, the industrial and agricultural centre of Piemonte, will join Palazzo Borsalino and the Department of Science and Technological Innovation of the University of Eastern Piedmont and the Department of Applied Science and Technology of the Torino Polytechnic in the Torch’s route; on 19 November, Asti, the city of vineyards and flagship of Piedmont’s culinary tradition with its famous bagna cauda, will host the tour stage at the ‘Rita Levi-Montalcini’ University of Asti, University of Torino on 26 November in Mondovì, the Italian capital of hot-air ballooning, will welcome the Torch at the Torino Polytechnic; on 28 November in Cuneo, the city of agrifood and mechatronics, it will welcome ‘the Guarini’ at the Mater Amabilis campus of the University of Torino; finally, on 29 November in Pollenzo, home of the University of Gastronomic Sciences.
The organisation of the stages is always supported by the universities and municipal administrations. The Regional School Office and provincial offices will take young students to witness the passing of the Flame of Knowledge. The torchbearers will include athletes and former athletes selected by the FederCUSI, CONI Piemonte and CIP Piemonte sports associations.
After touching the main regional university centres, the Torch will arrive in December in the municipalities hosting the Games, passing through the competition venues:
- 10 December: Pinerolo
- 12 December: Torre Pellice
- 17 December: Pragelato
- 20 December: Sestriere
- 29 December: Bardonecchia
The Torch will return to Torino on 13 January 2025 on the occasion of the Inauguration Ceremony that will kick off the XXXII FISU World University Games. The path of the torch will start from the historical seat of the CUS Torino in Via Braccini 1 and will wind along a city route that will touch the main parks of the City, the competition venues (Pala Tazzoli and Palavela) on a mixed route skirting the cycle paths in the area. The opening of the media accreditation procedure was also announced on the FISU website: Torino 2025 FISU World University Games – Home
