SLOVAKIA MAY BE REPRESENTED BY 60 ATHLETES AT THE FISU WINTER WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES

The Executive Committee of the Slovak University Sports Association (SAUŠ) has approved the quotas for the participation of Slovak athletes and team officials at the 2027 FISU Winter World University Games in Changchun, China.

Under the approved quotas, the Slovak delegation may consist of a total of 92 members, including 60 athletes and 32 team and support staff members.

Ice hockey will have the largest representation. A quota of 23 athletes and six team officials has been allocated to each of the men’s and women’s tournaments. Slovakia may therefore be represented by a total of 46 players across the two ice hockey competitions.

Slovak university ice hockey delivered the biggest success for the national delegation at the previous FISU Winter World University Games in Turin 2025. The men’s team advanced all the way to the final, where they lost 1–3 to Canada and returned from Italy with silver medals. The Slovak women’s team also produced an excellent performance, reaching the bronze medal game and finishing fourth after a narrow 1–2 defeat to Japan. Both Slovak teams will be looking to build on these results in 2027.

Turin 2025 was also a milestone for international university sport. For the first time in the history of the FISU World University Games, para athletes were included in the competition programme. They competed in Para Alpine Skiing and Para Cross-Country Skiing, with their events fully integrated into the Games programme alongside those of other athletes.

Changchun 2027 will build on this milestone, with Slovakia also expected to field para athletes for the first time. The approved quota for the Slovak delegation includes one athlete in Para Alpine Skiing and one in Para Cross-Country Skiing. This would mark Slovakia’s first-ever participation in para sports at the FISU Winter World University Games.

In the individual sports, quotas have been approved for Alpine Skiing, Figure Skating, Short Track Speed Skating, Snowboard, Para Alpine Skiing, Para Cross-Country Skiing and Ski Mountaineering.

Slovakia may be represented by four athletes in Alpine Skiing, supported by three team officials. Figure Skating has been allocated a quota of four athletes and four team officials. Slovakia may send one athlete each in Short Track Speed Skating, Snowboard, Para Alpine Skiing and Para Cross-Country Skiing, while two athlete places have been allocated for Ski Mountaineering.

The respective national sports federations will decide on the final distribution of the approved quotas between male and female athletes. They are required to notify SAUŠ of their decisions by 9 October 2026 at the latest.

The Slovak delegation in China will be led by Peter Hamaj, who also served as Head of Delegation at the FISU Winter World University Games in Turin 2025.

The Changchun 2027 FISU Winter World University Games will be another major international event offering Slovak student-athletes the opportunity to represent their country and universities while competing against university athletes from around the world.

Official website Changchun 2027 – www.changchun2027.com.cn