By Team INVC | INVC NEWS
Published: October 9, 2026 | 05:50 PM IST
TURIN, Italy | October 9, 2026 — A flame lit in northern Italy has officially started its journey toward China, marking one of the most symbolic milestones on the road to the 2027 Winter Universiade.
The official “Flame of Knowledge” for the 33rd Winter Universiade in Changchun was lit in Turin on October 8 before being transferred to the specially designed Changchun 2027 torch.
The flame will now travel to China, where it is expected to visit universities before ultimately lighting the main cauldron at the opening ceremony on January 15, 2027.
That journey connects the birthplace of the Universiade tradition with a major winter sports event that will bring thousands of university athletes to northeast China.
Why Was the Changchun 2027 Flame Lit in Turin?
Turin holds a unique position in the history of international university sports.
The Italian city hosted the first Summer Universiade in 1959, establishing a connection with the university sports movement that continues decades later.
Since 2018, Turin has also served as the home of FISU’s “Flame of Knowledge.”
Under the tradition, organizing committees for upcoming World University Games travel to Turin to collect the flame before taking it to their host country.
That makes Thursday’s ceremony more than a ceremonial lighting.
It formally links Changchun 2027 with the history and identity of the international university sports movement.
Flame Will Travel From Italy to China
During the Turin ceremony, the main flame was first ignited before being transferred to the Changchun 2027 flame lamp.
The flame is now set to travel to China.
FISU says it will tour universities before reaching the opening ceremony of the Winter Universiade.
Jilin Province alone has dozens of universities, giving organizers an opportunity to use the flame journey to connect students with the Games before competition begins.
The final destination will be the opening ceremony in Changchun, where the flame will ignite the Games cauldron.
Changchun 2027 Starts January 15
The 33rd Winter Universiade will run from January 15 through January 25, 2027 in China’s northeastern Jilin Province.
Changchun and Jilin City will jointly host the event.
Organizers are preparing venues across the region for competitions on snow and ice as university athletes from around the world arrive for one of the biggest international winter multisport events of 2027.
FISU expects approximately 3,000 participants from more than 50 countries and regions across five continents.
Athletes will compete across 97 podium events during the Games.
12 Sports — Plus Two Para Sports
Changchun 2027 will feature a wide-ranging winter program.
The sports lineup includes alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, curling, figure skating, freestyle and freeski, ice hockey, short-track speed skating, snowboard, speed skating, ski mountaineering, ski orienteering and cross-country running.
The program will also include para-alpine skiing and para-cross-country skiing.
The integration of para student-athletes continues the approach seen at the previous Winter Universiade, giving athletes the opportunity to compete within the broader Games program.
A Surprise Addition: Cross-Country Running on a Winter Games Program
One of the most unusual elements of Changchun 2027 will be the debut of cross-country running.
FISU approved the discipline for the 2027 Winter Universiade as part of an effort to introduce new sporting elements to the event.
That makes it especially notable because cross-country running is normally associated with outdoor endurance competition rather than a traditional winter multisport program.
Its inclusion could give Changchun 2027 a distinctive sporting identity beyond familiar snow and ice disciplines.
Ski Mountaineering and Speed Skating Add More Variety
Changchun 2027 will also feature ski mountaineering and speed skating as optional sports.
Ski mountaineering combines uphill and downhill skiing with mountaineering skills, testing endurance, technical ability and speed across snowy terrain.
Its presence adds another fast-growing winter discipline to the university sports program.
Meanwhile, traditional disciplines such as ice hockey, figure skating, alpine skiing and short-track speed skating are expected to remain among the major spectator attractions.
China Prepares for a Global Student Sports Gathering
Changchun has a strong winter sports culture and extensive cold-weather infrastructure.
The wider Jilin Province also offers established ski areas that will host different parts of the competition program.
Venues around Changchun, Jilin City and nearby resorts will allow organizers to spread the competitions across specialized facilities.
The Games will not focus only on medals.
University sport events traditionally combine competition with education, cultural exchange and international student interaction.
That concept is also reflected in the “Flame of Knowledge” itself.
World Conference Will Run Alongside the Games
Changchun will also host the FISU World Conference from January 16 to January 18, 2027.
The conference will focus on university sport, education, innovation and sustainability.
That gives Changchun 2027 an academic dimension alongside the sporting program and reinforces the broader philosophy behind the Universiade.
Why You Should Read This Story
The Turin flame ceremony signals that Changchun 2027 has moved from preparation into its final countdown.
But the real story goes beyond a torch.
Nearly 3,000 participants, more than 50 countries and regions, 97 podium opportunities, para events and the unusual addition of cross-country running make the 2027 Winter Universiade a major international student sports event worth watching.
Why This Story Is Worth Sharing
The Winter Universiade receives less global attention than the Olympics, yet it often provides an international stage for young athletes who could become future champions.
Changchun 2027 will also bring together sport, universities, cultural exchange and emerging disciplines in one event.
The flame’s journey from Turin to China offers a powerful symbol of that connection.
What Happens Next?
Attention will now shift to the flame’s journey through China, final venue preparations and the arrival of international delegations.
The opening ceremony is scheduled for January 15, 2027.
When the cauldron is finally lit in Changchun, the flame that began its journey in Turin will complete a symbolic route connecting the origins of the Universiade with its next generation of student-athletes.
