By Duncan Mackay at Dolce La Hulpe Brussels Hotel

eonz Eder, chairman of the World University Championships International Technical Committee, and FISU secretary general Eric Saintrond announce the successful bidders for the 2016 World University ChampionshipsNovember 9 - Britain will host its first World University Championships for 14 years after Swansea was awarded the Rugby Sevens in 2016, it was announced here today.


A total of 33 events were awarded to 24 countries, in sports ranging from 3x3 basketball in Beijing to chess in Abu Dhabi to woodball in Tapei City.

The last World University Championships event held in Britain was rowing at Nottingham in 2002.

The World University Championships Rugby Sevens is scheduled to be held in July 2016 and is expected to attract more than 600 competitors from 30 countries and will be hosted at the University Sports Village and neighbouring Swansea rugby venues.

The bid to host the competition was prepared by Swansea University and submitted as a partnership with British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) with support from the Welsh Rugby Union, Sport Wales and Swansea Council. 

The sport, due to make its Olympic debut in Rio de Janeiro a few weeks after the event in Swansea, has been part of the World University Championships programme since 2004 when they were held in Beijing.

The 2012 Championships took place in Brive, France, where both Britain's men's and women's teams won the gold medals, beating France and South Africa in their respective finals.

The next World University Championsips are due to place in Vitória in Brazil.

Swansea University's campus will be the centrepiece of the 2016 World University Championship Rugby SevensSwansea University's campus will be the centrepiece of the 2016 World University Championship Rugby Sevens

Swansea University's Singleton Park Campus will provide a Championship Village for the competition using the campus accommodation, catering and social facilities alongside its sports facilities.

"The successful bid to host this truly global sporting event is a great accolade for the University, the region and Wales," said Professor Noel Thompson, Pro Vice Chancellor at Swansea University.

"The 2016 FISU World University Championships will further signal Swansea University's commitment to stage world-class sporting events, following on from the hosting of both the FIT European Touch (rugby) and IPC European Athletics Championships in 2014.

"Rugby continues to be a priority sport for the University and with outstanding facilities and an integrated Championship site Swansea University will deliver a memorable experience for competitors, spectators and officials from across the globe."

Among the other events awarded was sambo, only accepted as World University Championship sport here yesterday.

The sport, began in the early 1920s by the Soviet Red Army to improve their hand-to-hand combat abilities, will make its debut on the programme at Limassol in Cyprus.

To see the full programme of events awarded click here. 

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October 2013: Wales launch bid to host 2016 World University Rugby Sevens