The early 20s of this century, when the International Student Organization had already begun plans to organize the World University Games. In May 1923, held in Paris in the World University Sports Congress, the meeting decided the following year to hold the first session of the International University Games. In 1924, the First International University Games (International Universities' Games) held in Warsaw, athletics, swimming and fencing three events. Since then, the games from time to time held in 1939 organized a total of eight sessions. After the Games, was interrupted by World War II in 1947 has resumed. However, in 1951 the causes of the international situation changes, split into East and West, two games, the West called "International Students Sports Council", the East is called "Youth Student Games" or "Youth Friendship Games." The two camps organized by their respective organizations and Universiade.
In 1957, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the French National Federation, was held in Paris an international University Games and the International Cultural Festival. After meeting representatives of 30 countries unanimously agreed to decide the future of university students regularly organize sports competitions worldwide, known as the "World University Games," in principle, held every two years.
In 1959, the first session of the World University Games in Turin, Italy, from 45 countries and 985 athletes participated in the race. Since then, the biennial event, to 1999, the World University Games have been held 20 sessions.
World University Games events generally have the formal requirements of the track and field, swimming, diving, water polo, gymnastics, fencing, tennis, basketball and volleyball 9, the host country have the right to add one. For example, the host country, Bulgaria in 1977 increased by wrestling, football 1979, an increase in Mexico in 1985 an increase of judo in Japan.
In 1960, fake Olympic competition system, but also held in Chamonix in France, the World University Winter Games. Initially, the Summer Games and Winter Games respectively in a single number and held in even years, since 1981, changed to be held in the same year. To 1999, the World University Winter Games have been held over 19 sessions of the competitions, there speed skating, short track speed skating, figure skating, alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, ski jumping, biathlon, ice hockey, Nordic combined, snowboarding.
The first session of the 1959 World University Games, China has participated in some track and field competitions. From 1961 until the second session of the eighth, the Chinese were not to send a delegation to participate. In 1975, China was accepted as full members of the International University Sports Federation. From 1977, the Ninth, China sent a delegation to participate in the World University Games to date successive.
As the World University Games are second only to the Olympics Games, the world's large-scale comprehensive, self-organization of the first race in 1959, the world attach great importance to all countries, have sent the best athletes compete. From the age of 60 since the previous World University Summer Games, a total of 18 broke the world record in track and field and swimming