Officials from Naples 2019 met with the International University Sports Federation (FISU) prior to the ongoing Universide in Taipei, but fleshed out their proposals to the media before their involvement in tomorrow’s Closing Ceremony.

Under their plans, sailing, shooting and rugby sevens were selected as three optional sports for the Universaide, which will feature alongside FISU’s core sports.

Archery, athletics, basketball, fencing, football, judo, swimming and diving are among the compulsory sports, along with artistic and rhythmic gymnastics.  

Table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball and water polo are also included.

A total of 22 sports are being contested at Taipei 2017, with baseball, roller sports, weightlifting and wushu featuring on the programme, while billiards is included as an invitational sport.

None of the events will be included at Naples 2019.

Italian officials have been present throughout the Universiade, with four members having stayed on to observe Taipei 2017.

The delegation included the President of the Italian University Sports Centre, Lorenzo Lentini, and Naples 2019's director general, Gianluca Basile.

The officials confirmed the Athletes Village will see competitors housed on tall ships or cruise ships, which will be located in the harbour of the Italian city.

Organisers reflected they had a shortened period to stage the Universiade successfully, having been awarded the event last May.

They were only candidate in a reopened bidding process after Brasilia withdrew in January 2015, with the Brazilian capital was unable to meet financial commitments.

The Italian organisers believe they will still deliver an outstanding Universiade, with the event set to have its 30^th edition.

“We have a delay of two years, so we cannot begin with four years before," says Basile.

“We are trying to give our best to achieve the best Universiade, like yours.

“Naples and the region represent a country of great historical and cultural traditions.

“We will try to do an event combining sport and culture, as you know our University is one of the most famous in the world.

“It will be an event of culture, peace and fraternity.”

Naples 2019, who plans to use 37 venues for competition and 24 for training, highlighted the attraction of Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast as further reasons to attend the event.

They will offer a flavour of what to expect at the Univerisade tomorrow, when they take part in the handover at the Closing Ceremony.

Their part of the ceremony will place spotlight Italian music.

A ballet performance by theatre will also feature.