Seoul: Official invitations to the 2027 World University Games in South Korea have been dispatched to 164 countries, including North Korea, as announced by the organizing committee on Thursday. The event, which gathers university athletes from around the globe, is scheduled to take place in the central Chungcheong provinces from August 1-12 next year.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the organizing committee confirmed that all 164 member states of the International University Sports Federation (FISU) have received invitations. Lee Jeong-woo, the acting head of the committee, stated, "As North Korea is also a FISU member state, we plan to register its participation in line with the given procedures and schedules." This marks a significant step in the event's preparations, highlighting the inclusive approach towards participation.

The committee revealed that arrangements concerning North Korea's participation will be meticulously coordinated in collaboration with the government and FISU. This coordination is crucial for ensuring smooth participation and adherence to international standards and protocols.

The process for participation involves each country's university sports federation submitting their intent to participate by September. This will be followed by the submission of general entries detailing discipline sizes by December. The final rosters of participating athletes are expected by April 2027, with individual entries to be finalized by June 2027. This timeline is designed to ensure an organized and efficient approach to the large-scale event.