The International University Sports Federation (FISU), the governing body of the World University Games, recently announced that they have received 45 bids from 28 different countries to host the 2018 World University Games.
The bids span across 4 continents and are currently being reviewed by FISU’s evaluation committee. The committee will be judging criteria such as accommodation, transportation as well as marketing and communication plans or atmosphere during the event. Their primary goal to ensure the quality events for the student-athletes worldwide. The committee’s evaluations will be submitted to the FISU Executive Committee and the final candidates will be announced on December 1, 2015.
With 45 bids, FISU is bucking the bidding trend that has been plaguing FINA. Hefty price tags have been making it increasingly difficult for countries and federations to host any FINA events, which is why Mexico had to back out as hosts of the upcoming 2017 FINA World Championships. Officials from USA Swimming have also publicly made statements about the price of hosting FINA events, which is why there has not been a US bid to host a FINA event in a while.