THE STATE ARCHIVE – Institutional Point of the Torino 2025 FISU World University Games and Piazza Castello
The Torino 2025 FISU World University Games are, by definition, the celebration of the passion for sport combined with the passion for Knowledge and Culture.
The value of History, of the Wisdom of those who have gone before us and formed the roots of our Knowledge, is expressed in a journey through time, from the past to the future of the Games, through the present. This is where the exceptional exhibition ‘Passion and Sport through time’ set up at the State Archives – the institutional and reception point for delegations and the public during the Games – celebrates the evolution of winter sports, highlighting their impact on global culture and the history of the Universiade. It is a narrative journey through unique objects that tell the origins and evolution of the event. It starts with the original brazier, symbol of the first editions of the Universiade, to explore historical relics and medals that testify to the event’s glorious past. The journey culminates with the evolution of the design of the Torch, the medals and the Torino 2025 logo, offering a fascinating look at innovation and tradition. The project was realised thanks to the precious contribution of CUS Torino, the Politecnico di Torino and the Accademia Albertina.
The exhibition was inaugurated on 10 January at 10.00 a.m., with the opening of the FISU Village in Piazza Castello, and will be open free of charge every day from 10.00 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. from 10 to 23 January.
The Director of the Archives, Dr. Stefano Benedetto, said: ‘In Torino, the history of the World University Games began in 1959. The torch of knowledge started in Torino. History and knowledge, a combination united since the origins of the Games to the values of healthy and fair sports competition, represent the essence of the institutional mandate of the State Archives. We therefore enthusiastically welcome the exhibition Passion and Sport through time and the institutional and reception point for delegations and the public during the Games to our halls, also to reaffirm that our Institute is not an ivory tower, but an open place that lives and breathes to the rhythm of the City’.
Also linked to the concept of wisdom is the open-air exhibition in Piazza San Carlo ‘Passion and Sport through Time’: an extraordinary display that traces the journey of winter sports from their origins to today’s high-tech competitions, exploring how passion for these activities has shaped communities, inspired athletes and united nations. Whether you are a sports enthusiast or just curious, this exhibition offers an engaging journey through time, illustrating how winter sports have gone beyond mere fun to become a global celebration of perseverance, skill and unity.
Also on Friday at 11 a.m., the ribbon was cut for the FISU Village, a dedicated space in Piazza Castello that will host two areas: Rectangle Area and Igloo Area.
In the Rectangle Area there will be the sponsors, with the Unicredit ski simulator that will offer a unique emotion, as well as a photobooth by Nikon, and various in-depth corners by 3BMeteo, Visit Piemonte, SaGAT Torino, Torino Oggi, Fitp Piemonte, E Work, Cno Generazione Z, Winner and UnicreditAllianz.
In the Igloo Area there will be musical performances by the Torino Conservatory of Music, meetings on Agenda 2030 topics including wellbeing, energy, sustainability, sport, inclusion; exhibitions dedicated to sport and design, with special focus on the activities of Associations in the area, and an evening of magic with Maghi Torinesi. Admission is free with compulsory booking, subject to availability, via a link that will be published on the official Torino 2025 FISU Games website.
The programme is online at: Torino 2025 – FISU World University Games Winter
These are the opening times of the Village: morning 11:00 – 13:00; afternoon 15:00 – 17:00; evening 17:10 – 19:20; evening 19:00 -21:00.
Also today, the first arrivals of athletes have began at Torino Porta Susa Station, the Official Hub of the XXXII Torino 2025 World University Winter Games thanks to a collaboration with RFI – Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (FS Group).
There is little more than a week to go before the arrival of the colourful river of around 70 flags that will parade through Torino and the Olympic Valleys on the occasion of the 32nd edition of the FISU World University Games Torino 2025 – known to the world as the Universiade – scheduled from 13 to 23 January. As many as 13 disciplines of competition will be hosted in 6 different locations (Torino, Pinerolo, Pragelato, Torre Pellice, Bardonecchia and Sestriere): a real feast for lovers of winter sports that will feature 55 nations, with over 2,500 athletes and delegations (including 89 Italians) ready to unleash their sporting passion – combined with their commitment to study and university careers – to win one of the 90 titles up for grabs.
As Torino prepares to welcome athletes and spectators from all over the world, the Torino Porta Susa railway station becomes the Official HUB of the Torino 2025 FISU World University Games. For the upcoming Winter World University Games, a photo corner has been set up in the station to welcome athletes arriving from 10 January onwards and to give the public of travellers in transit the chance to meet them and take a selfie with them. In this space it will also be possible to get a close-up view of the Torch of the Games, which will be present in the station at games time. ‘The countdown has officially begun. In just over a month, the Torch of Knowledge of the Torino 2025 FISU World University Games will light up our territory, bringing with it thousands of young athletes from all over the world – said Alessandro Ciro Sciretti – and we are literally thrilled, we can’t wait to see our first young people arrive, full of adrenaline and expectation, welcomed into the colourful HUB of Torino Porta Susa to meet their supporters and to transmit the joy and energy of the Games to everyone. We thank RFI for the precious space granted’.
