FISU Executive Committee member Gabriel Kotchofa was among the speakers at the event at Ondokuz Mayıs University, where he appeared alongside Turkish University Sports Federation (TUSF) President Mehmet Gunay, Mayor of Samsun Mustafa Demir and university rector Yavuz Ünal.

Kotchofa said FISU had been affected by geopolitics globally like many other organisations, and thanked Turkey for stepping in as hosts in place of Yekaterinburg, after Russian hosts were stripped in response to the invasion of Ukraine.

"Tonight in this beautiful city of Samsun, we are officially opening the biggest international university sports competition since 2019 Summer Universiade in Napoli," said Kotchofa.

"The recent years proved to be very tough for the whole world and FISU was no exception.

"The long pandemic, followed by a major international politics and security crisis forced us to make some hard choices, related, in particular, to the hosts of our events.

"In this situation we are so grateful to our Turkish hosts who willingly extended their helping hand."

Gunay and Demir spoke about the potential for Samsun as a host and Turkey as a whole - with Istanbul set to hold the FISU University World Cup 3x3 Basketball next month.

After Demir officially opened the World Cup, entertainment continued in the hall, with impressive traditional dancing - featuring the use of swords and shields to complement the combat sports of the event.