Registrations are high; the ambitious number of 8,500 student-athletes and officials from 150 countries has been reached. As the organizers announce, this also means that fans in the Ruhr can look forward to an American basketball team with top players in both the men's and women's teams. Sports such as badminton or table tennis involve all the top Asian countries. And in volleyball and beach volleyball, participation is guaranteed from Japan, Brazil, Italy, Poland and Australia, among others.