Student Sport Ireland have issued the following statement with regard to it's particiation at the 2023 World University Games.  Athletics Ireland supports the decision made by SSI.

"Following consultation with the relevant national governing bodies of sport (NGBs) and informed by the current Irish Department of Foreign Affairs Travel Advisory the Board of Student Sport Ireland (SSI) has taken the decision to withdraw from this summer’s rescheduled World University Games to be held in Chengdu, China from July 28th to August 8th.

The SSI Board has taken the decision based on the latest available information and with a duty of care to its student athletes, coaches, and delegation officials.

As the coordinator of Irish student teams at World University events for over the last 30 years SSI fully appreciates and understands that the decision may disappoint some student athletes who had hoped to compete at the Chengdu Games.

However, the SSI Board believe that taking the decision to withdraw at this time ensures that student athletes, their coaches, and NGBs can now plan for the upcoming competitive season with certainty.

Following on from the participation last month of 5 Irish student alpine skiers at the Lake Placid Winter University Games SSI now looks forward to working with the NGBs in preparing for the various World University Championships scheduled for 2024, and the next editions of both the Winter and Summer University Games to be held respectively in Torino, Italy in January 2025, and the Rhine-Ruhr region in July 2025."