Turin and Piedmont announced in December that it had established a Candidature Committee, ahead of submitting a final bid for the FISU Winter World University Games.

Turin is considered to be the birthplace of the World University Games having staged the first event in 1959.

Since then, Italy has hosted four summer and six winter editions of the Universiade.

Turin previously hosted the Winter Universiade in 2007.

FISU Games winter director Milan Augustin led the organisation’s delegation to Italy to meet with the Candidature Committee.

The delegation visited venues which are proposed for the Games.

The four-day visit included technical inspections of Bardonecchia, the proposed venue for Alpine skiing, freestyle, freeski and snowboard.

The delegation also visited the proposed biathlon and cross-country skiing venue at Pragelato.

Turin has been billed as the host of ice sports and the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Games.

FISU said Pinerolo and Torre Pellice are also being considered to host ice sport events, but were not visited.

"Visiting former Universiade venues in Bardonecchia, Pragelato and Torino reminded me of many brilliant sporting and social moments during the successful 2007 Winter Universiade," said Milan Augustin, FISU Games Winter Director.

"Many personnel from those past Games are still working in the same functional areas and more importantly, they have the same passion as before.

"This will be key to the delivery of a successful edition of the FISU Games.

"The FISU Games Winter department could see the potential of using several sport and non-sport venues from the 2006 Olympics or 2007 Winter Universiade.

"Even after 14 years, these venues are in a very good shape although they will need some updating to reach current international standards."

FISU said the delegation’s first assessment was positive that the project includes sustainability in many areas, including environmental, social, economic and in the development of university sport.

The candidature dossier will be officially submitted to FISU by the end of March 2021.

An evaluation visit is expected to be completed in April, with the Games on course to be awarded in May.

"We are working closely with Centro Universitario Sportivo (CUS) Torino to support them in preparing the bid book," said Eric Saintrond, FISU Secretary General and chief executive.

"It would be a great delight for us should Torino and the Piedmont region host the FISU World University Games again.

“Italy has hosted four summer and six winter editions in the past, and we are always immensely grateful to the Centro Universitario Sportivo Italiano for this.

"It will be very satisfying to see the FISU Games return there."

The Turin Candidature Committee is led by CUS Torino President Riccardo D’Elicio.

D’Elicio thanked the FISU delegation for its support to help develop the candidature.

"A heartfelt thanks to the FISU delegation that through its visit to Turin has further strengthened the already solid relations with CUSI and CUS Torino, creating the preconditions for the candidature of Italy, of Piedmont and of Turin for the winter edition of the 2025 FISU World University Games," D’Elicio said.

"The world of university sport will always find in Turin a team that is passionate and determined to grow the value of sport and university education in the territory. 

"I am sure that Torino 2025 will be an extraordinary opportunity to achieve these goals, leaving a unique legacy in terms of professionalism, relations, image and infrastructure that can give further impetus to the growth of the regional university system."

Turin is the capital of the Piedmont region, which is situated in north west Italy and staged the Winter Olympic Games in 2006.

The next Winter Universiade is scheduled to take place from December 11 to 21 2021 in Swiss city Lucerne, where athletes will compete in 10 sports.

Lake Placid in the United States is due to host the Winter World University Games in 2023.