The 2015 Summer Universiade (Korean: 2015년 하계 유니버시아드, romanized: Icheon sip-o nyeon Hagye Yunibeosiadeu) was a Universiade held in the city of Gwangju, South Korea. It took place from July 3 to July 14, 2015.
The event is officially known as the XXVIII Summer Universiade (Korean: 제28회 하계 유니버시아드, romanized: Jeisippalhoe Hagye Yunibeosiadeu) and also known as Gwangju 2015 (Korean: 광주2015, romanized: Gwangju Icheon sip-o).
Bid selection
The cities of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Taipei, Taiwan; and Gwangju, South Korea were in initial contention for the Games. Edmonton hosted the 1978 Commonwealth Games and the 1981 Summer Universiade and all the infrastructure built for those two events was in use and was part of the project, which gave the city a big advantage, but the subprime mortgage crisis in 2008 led the city to withdraw. This left only Gwangju and Taipei at the final phase. On May 23, 2009, FISU awarded the hosting rights to Gwangju.[1]
The official mascot of the 2015 Summer Universiade is an angel of light named Nuribi. The name Nuribi is a combination of the Korean words ‘nuri’ for world and ‘bi’ for fly. It is described as the messenger of light, symbol of Gwangju Universiade vision and bridge of communication of world's youth which spreads hope of creation to deliver light to the world.[2]
Slogan
The slogan of the 2015 Summer Universiade is "Light Up Tomorrow" (Korean: 창조의 빛, 미래의 빛, romanized: Changjoui Bich, Milaeui Bich, lit. 'Light of the Creation, Light of the Future') which represents the city's identity derived from its name Gwangju, the town of light, its position at the center of 21st-century high-tech industry era, the challenging spirit and passion of the world's youth especially university student athlete at the Universiade, expectations for better performance of athlete, Gwangju's effort to help brighten the future of the world through the Universiade, city's intention to create momentum for sustainable development toward a better future, and will of Guangju to set new standards for universiade.[3]
Logo
The logo of the 2015 Summer Universiade is the "Wings of Light". Its unique 'U' letter shape resembles the Universiade Games. Overall, it represents the passion of athletes compete against all odds beyond limits, the dynamic atmosphere of sport, and the harmony of nations around the world, and Gwangju's vision to reach worldwide recognition and admiration. 5 blue wings represents the world's oceans and 6 Red wings represents the world's six continents. The overlapping light denotes the harmony and friendship among the world's youth especially university student athlete in the Universiade. The soaring U-shaped wings emitting light symbolize Gwangju as a global city and aiming for greater heights during the universiade.[4]
