The European nation got its campaign underway in the presence of Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, International University Sports Federation (FISU) secretary general and chief executive Eric Saintrond, and representatives from the Romanian University Sports Association and the Association Vasile Tomoiagă at an event at the Aula Magna of the University of Bucharest's Faculty of Law.

"An event of this scale will be beneficial for Romania both economically and socially," Iohannis said.

"The Universiade will improve the image of our country and develop tourism.

"With this Universiade, large investments will also be made to the development of sport in Romania, which is more than necessary."

Bucharest hosted the 1981 Summer Universiade ©FISU/Facebook

As well as having Iohannis' support, the bid is said to also be backed by prominent Romanian sports figures, including Olympic champion gymnast Nadia Comăneci and athletics gold medallist Gabriela Szabo - both are Universiade gold medal winners, as well as tennis star Simona Halep and gymnastics World Championships gold medallist Andreea Răducan.

Romania already has experience of hosting a Summer Universiade, having staged the 1981 edition where Comăneci won five gold medals.

"The Universiade will be used to develop the skills and professionalism of your future generations," Saintrond said.

The next edition of the summer university athlete multisport competition will take place in the South Korean city of Gwangju from July 3 to 14 this year, before it travels to Taiwan's capital Taipei in 2017.

FISU reopened the bidding process for the 2019 event following Brasília's withdrawal from hosting the event at the beginning of this year.

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