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UNBC's Rich Abney picked for Canada's mission staff at 2025 World Winter University Games in Italy

Associate athletic director will take role as communications manager for Games, Jan. 13-25 in Torino
Ted Clarke
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UNBC associate athletic director Rich Abney will serve as Canada's mission staff communications manager for the 2025 FISU World Winter University Games in Torino, Italy.UNBC

Rich Abney is heading to Italy.

UNBC’s associate athletic director has been selected as part of Canada’s mission staff as communications manager for the 2025 FISU World Winter University Games in Torino, Italy, Jan. 13-25.

The former CKPG TV sports director has been with UNBC since December 2016, when he was hired as sports information director overseeing the Timberwolves varsity basketball and soccer programs. He was appointed to his current position last October.

Abney was part of the communications team for the 2023 World University Games in Lake Placid, NY.

Six Italian communities will host 11 sports, including alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboard, biathlon, freestyle/free skiing, ice hockey, figure skating, short-track speed skating, curling, as well as demonstration sports, ski orienteering and ski mountaineering.

For the first time in the history of the event, parastudent athletes will be part of the University Games, competing in alpine and cross-country skiing.