1991 Summer Universiade
 Slogan : 'The Future of Sport' | |
| Host city | Sheffield, England |
|---|---|
| Nations participating | 101 |
| Athletes participating | 3,346 |
| Events | 11 sports |
| Opening ceremony | 14 July |
| Closing ceremony | 25 July |
| Officially opened by | Anne, Princess Royal |
| Torch lighter | Helen Sharman |
| Main venue | Don Valley Stadium |
The 1991 Summer Universiade, also known as the XVI Summer Universiade, took place in Sheffield, England. In the host country it was generally referred to as the World Student Games.
Sheffield City Council saw the event as a catalyst for urban renewal and regeneration after industrial decline.[1][2] It set up a company, Universiade GB Ltd, to run the games.[1]
New facilities built for the event included the centrepiece Don Valley Stadium and other arenas, while the Lyceum Theatre was renovated for the associated cultural events.[1] Lack of central government funding and television sponsorship meant the event was in doubt until the Council guaranteed the money itself, in the face of complaints from local ratepayers.[1] The city took out loans for construction costs that have been repeatedly refinanced and are not expected to be paid off until 2024.[2]
The opening ceremony included a performance honouring Sheffield's industrial heritage, with participants wearing flat caps and waistcoats and carrying hammers. Steve Backley carried the flag for the Great Britain team.[2] Helen Sharman, Britain's first astronaut, attracted publicity when she tripped and dropped the games torch, extinguishing it; the flames were lit by the ignitor in the flame bowl itself.[1]
Venues[]
University Village[]
Hyde Park flats near Sheffield City Centre were used for accommodation for the athletes during the games.
Sports[]
Athletics ()
Basketball ()
Diving ()
Fencing ()
Field hockey ()
Football ()
Gymnastics ()
Swimming ()
Tennis ()
Volleyball ()
Water polo ()
Medal table[]
* Host nation (Great Britain)
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  United States (USA) | 29 | 24 | 25 | 78 |
| 2 |  China (CHN) | 21 | 18 | 11 | 50 |
| 3 |  Soviet Union (URS) | 12 | 14 | 20 | 46 |
| 4 |  North Korea (PRK) | 11 | 3 | 5 | 19 |
| 5 |  Italy (ITA) | 6 | 7 | 8 | 21 |
| 6 |  Japan (JPN) | 5 | 16 | 7 | 28 |
| 7 |  Germany (GER) | 4 | 9 | 5 | 18 |
| 8 |  Great Britain (GBR)* | 4 | 5 | 5 | 14 |
| 9 |  South Korea (KOR) | 4 | 2 | 4 | 10 |
| 10 |  Canada (CAN) | 3 | 4 | 9 | 16 |
| 11 |  France (FRA) | 3 | 1 | 4 | 8 |
| 12 |  Hungary (HUN) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| 13 |  Ireland (IRL) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 14 |  Poland (POL) | 2 | 3 | 6 | 11 |
| 15 |  Australia (AUS) | 2 | 3 | 2 | 7 |
| 16 |  Netherlands (NED) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 17 |  Romania (ROM) | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
| 18 |  Nigeria (NGR) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 19 |  Jamaica (JAM) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 20 |  Bermuda (BER) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
 Chinese Taipei (TPE) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
 Finland (FIN) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 23 |  Spain (ESP) | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| 24 |  Cuba (CUB) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
 Norway (NOR) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 26 |  Malaysia (MAS) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
 Mexico (MEX) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
 Sierra Leone (SLE) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
 Yugoslavia (YUG) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 30 |  Belgium (BEL) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 31 |  Indonesia (INA) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
 Kenya (KEN) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Totals (32 nations) | 120 | 128 | 121 | 369 | |
References[]
- ^ a b c d e "Troubled student games 'were almost scrapped'". Sheffield Telegraph. 3 April 2009. Retrieved 9 May 2009.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b c "World Student Games: Sheffield's forgotten sporting spectacle". BBC News. 18 July 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
- 1991 Summer Universiade
- Summer Universiade
- 1991 in multi-sport events
- 1991 in English sport
- International sports competitions hosted by England
- Sport in Sheffield
- Multi-sport events in the United Kingdom
- 1990s in Sheffield
- July 1991 sports events in the United Kingdom