The International University Sports Federation (FISU) announced today that Lucerne 2021 would run from December 11 to 21.

FISU postponed the event, which had been due to take place in the Swiss city from January 21 to 31, in August as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.

It had been expected that the Games would be rescheduled for December after a survey conducted among national member federations, as well as the six International Federations governing the sports of the Winter Games, revealed the month provided the most suitable dates for the Games.

The decision was made after the FISU Executive Committee approved a proposal from the Lucerne 2021 Organising Committee.

"We are extremely pleased that the Winter Universiade 2021 can still take place, in spite of the pandemic-induced postponement," said FISU President Oleg Matytsin. 

"After very careful consultation between all relevant stakeholders, including the six cantons of Central Switzerland, we mutually agreed to hold the event in December 2021.

"Here in Switzerland, where FISU also has its headquarters, we have been looking forward to this edition of our Games for many years.

"On behalf of everyone at FISU, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to the State authorities of Switzerland, the different Cantons and the Lucerne 2021 Organising Committee for their unwavering commitment.

"Let us now deliver on the promise of international university sport for thousands of young athletes around the world."

Guido Graf, President of the Organising Committee, added: "It was only thanks to enormous commitment and good collaboration between the cantons, the city of Lucerne and the main stakeholders in the sports industry and the region that we were able to present FISU with this proposal to postpone the event."

A total of 10 sporting disciplines are set to be contested at the 2021 Winter Universiade.

Events are due to be held across seven venues.

"This year has been dramatically affected by the COVID-19 pandemic," added FISU secretary general and chief executive Eric Saintrond. 

"The ripple effects will be felt in the international sports calendar over the next year or more. 

"We had to keep in mind the current situation, national budgeting and international sport calendars."