United World Games
Tour
Overview
Since 2015, SAWUSA has been the largest USA delegation and often the largest delegation in the World at the United World Games. The event is an amazing Olympic-style youth sports event with teams in many sports from all over the World (10+ sports, 10,000+ athletes, 50+ countries). In addition to the games, we'll visit historic sites in Germany, Austria, Italy, and Slovenia (this itinerary changes slightly each year based on the airport(s) we use). This is an amazing ten day adventure that you will never forget.
Tour
Details
- WHO - Ages 10-19 in Basketball (MW), Cheer/Dance (MW), Field Hockey (W), Hockey (MW), Soccer (MW), Tennis (MW), Volleyball (MW), Lacrosse (M/W)
- WHAT - United World Games in Klagenfurt, Austria
- WHERE - Germany, Italy, Slovenia, Austria
- WHEN - June 14-23, 2026 (10 days)
- WHEN - June 20-29, 2027 (10 days)
- HOW MUCH - $3,790* per traveler (no flight)
- HOW MUCH - $4,790* per traveler (with flight)
*If paying in full and up front for all travelers. The price is $300 more if using a payment plan or adding additional travelers to the tour after the athlete is enrolled.
- 2026 Departure City - Boston (BOS)*
- 2027 Departure City - TBD*
*This is tentative and can change. Official flight details will be released on February 15th.
Sample Tour
Itinerary
NOTE: This sample itinerary is for 2026 and has Venice, Italy as the arrival and departure airport. Sometimes we use Munich, Germany or Vienna, Austria depending on where we find the best flights. The airports change the itinerary slightly. Regardless of which airports we use, the trip is jam packed with culture and adventure.
DAY 1 - DEPART THE USA
Meet your teammates and coaches at our USA departure airport and fly overnight to Europe
DAY 2 - WELCOME TO EUROPE
Arrival in Venice and transfer to Lignano (~1.5 hrs) • First practice session in Lignano or surrounding area for the basketball players (approx. 2 hours) • Free time on the beach to relax • Dinner at hotel or local restaurant • Overnight in Lignano • Transfer via private bus
DAY 3 - VENICE & 1ST GAME
Transfer to Venice • Guided City Tour Venice • Have fun during a relaxing Gondola ride • Option to visit the Murano Glass factory • Free time to explore • Basketball Exhibition Match vs Local Team and Hockey Practice • Return to Lignano • Dinner at a local restaurant • Transfer via private bus
DAY 4 - CASTLE BUILDING & MEDIEVAL DINNER
Transfer to Ferlach, with a practice session or exhibition game on the way • Continue to Friesach for the Castle Building Experience (The Castle Building Experience is a living history project where a full medieval castle is being built using only authentic medieval tools, materials, and techniques, without modern technology. It’s an immersive experience that lets visitors watch craftsmen at work and understand how people lived and built in the Middle Ages) • Enjoy an authentic Medieval Dinner Experience • Transfer via private bus to Klagenfurt for check-in and overnight
DAY 5 - FERLACH GORGE & OKTOBERFEST
Morning excursion to Ferlach for the Tscheppaschlucht Gorge activity (The Tscheppaschlucht Gorge is a dramatic natural gorge where you can hike along secured paths with bridges and ladders through deep rock walls and roaring waterfalls carved by water over millions of years. It’s a scenic outdoor experience highlighting the power of nature, with highlights like the Tschaukofall waterfall, a suspension bridge, and lush flora along the trail) • Transfer back to Klagenfurt for a practice session or exhibition game • Oktoberfest including dinner • Overnight at hotel • Transfer via private bus
DAY 6 - UNITED WORLD GAMES, OPENING CEREMONY
Have breakfast at your hotel • Enjoy the first day of the United World Games • Have lunch with your new friends inside the Players Town • Be part of the grand Opening Ceremony and represent your country at the entrance of the nations • Have dinner at the UWG venue with the players of the other teams • Overnight at your Hotel in Klagenfurt (Sandwirth) • Transfer via UWG Shuttle System
DAY 7 - UNITED WORLD GAMES, PLAYERS PARTY
Have breakfast at your hotel • Your time to shine during the second day of the Games • Have lunch inside the Players Town • If time permits, watch some games of other sports • Enjoy the Players Party and dance the night away • Adults can enjoy the Gala Dinner • Overnight at your Hotel in Klagenfurt (Sandwirth) • Transfer via UWG Shuttle System
DAY 8 - UNITED WORLD GAMES, FAREWELL BBQ
Have breakfast at your hotel • Have lunch inside the Players Town • GO FOR GOLD and enjoy the award ceremonies • Enjoy the UWG Farewell BBQ at the lake and jump in the crystal clear lake • Overnight at your hotel in Klagenfurt (Sandwirth) • Transfer via UWG Shuttle System
DAY 9 - UDINE & SHOPPING
After the United World Games, the group will enjoy a relaxed morning • Transfer to Udine, Italy for shopping and exploration (Udine is real, genuine city with local life, cobblestone streets, and historic architecture and is known for its Venetian charm, ancient buildings and beautiful piazzas) • Continue to Venice, with dinner and overnight in Mestre • Transfer via private bus
DAY 10 - DEPARTURE FOR THE USA
Have breakfast at your hotel • Transfer to the airport for departure flight back home • Transfer via private bus
NOTE: This is a sample itinerary and subject to changes. While we make every effort to keep the actual trip as close as possible to the itineraries released in advance of the trip, the nature of group and international travel requires last minute changes due to vendors, travel logistics, game and tournament schedules, weather, etc.]
Tour
Media Center
Links to more information
- UWG Website
- 2025 Tour Blog by Mike Spinner
- 2025 UWG Aftermovie
- 2024 UWG Aftermovie
- 2023 Tour Blog by Mike Spinner
- 2023 UWG Aftermovie
- 2023 Opening Ceremony USA Announcement
- 2022 UWG Aftermovie
- 2020 UWG Trailer
- 2017 Opening Ceremony Video
- 2016 UWG Trailer
- 2015 SAWUSA Trip Highlight Video
- SAWUSA Featured on Good Morning Austria
- Pictures from Past SAWUSA Tours
Meet Tour Coordinator
Coach Sam Swinford
Inclusions
This Tour Includes
- Round trip airfare from the team’s departure airport
- Ground transportation for all scheduled activities
- Meals: 2 meals a day as outlined in itinerary (3 on tournament days)
- Hotels: 4 star hotels, based on 2-3 guests per room
- Entertainment as outlined in the itinerary
- SaWUSA uniforms and equipment
- Sport sanctioning and tournament entrance fees
- Local tour manager with the team 24-7
- Experienced and dedicated SAWUSA coaching staff
This Tour Does Not Include
- Travel to your departure airport
- Passport / Visa fees
- Individual medical insurance (primary)
- Travel insurance (recommended)
- Customary tipping (bus drivers, etc.)
- Personal items, snacks, drinks, etc.
How to
Join the Team!
If you are a registered traveler, you can access departure airport and flight info, official itinerary, coach info, and more on the TRIPS and OTHER RESOURCES tab once you are logged in. If you have not applied you can start the application below.
Basketball Age Groups for 2027
- U19 (M/F) – born after 01.01.2008
- U16 (M/F) – born after 01.01.2011
- U14 (M/F) – born after 01.01.2013
- U12 (mixed) – born after 01.01.2015
- U10 (mixed) – born after 01.01.2017
Note: Each team is allowed two exceptions as long as they are within 6 months of the age cutoff date.
Hockey Age Groups for 2027
- U18 (F) – born after 01.01.2009
- U16 (M/F) – born after 01.01.2011
- U14 (M) -born after 01.01.2013
- U12 (M) – born after 01.01.2015
- U10 (M) – born after 01.01.2017