) | |
| Host city | Sicily, Italy |
|---|---|
| Nations participating | 124 |
| Athletes participating | 3,949 |
| Events | 10 sports |
| Opening ceremony | August 20 |
| Closing ceremony | August 31 |
| Officially opened by | Oscar Luigi Scalfaro President of Italy |
| Torch lighter | Anarita Sidotti |
| Main venue | Stadio La Favorita/Stadio Angelo Massimino |
The 1997 Summer Universiade, also known as the XIX Summer Universiade, took place in the island of Sicily, Italy.
Venues
- Stadio Angelo Massimino, Catania — athletics, ceremony (opening)
- Teatro Massimo Bellini, Catania — fencing
- PalaSanFilippo, Messina — basketball
- Swimming Pool of the Polo dell'Annuziata at the University of Messina, Messina — swimming
- Swimming Pool of the Polo del Centro at the University of Messina, Messina — diving
- Swimming Pool of the Polo del Papardo at the University of Messina, Messina — water polo
- PalaMinardi, Ragusa — basketball
- Palasport A. Giglia, Favara — basketball
- Temporary Outdoor Arena at the Necropolis of Pantalica, Syracuse — gymnastics
- Stadio Renzo Barbera, Palermo — football, ceremony (closing)
- Gymnasium of the University of Palermo, Palermo — volleyball
- Velodromo Borselino, Palermo — tennis
Sports
Athletics 
Basketball 
Diving 
Fencing 
Football _pictogram.svg.png)
Gymnastics 
Swimming 
Tennis _pictogram.svg.png)
Volleyball 
Water polo
Athletics 
Diving 
_pictogram.svg.png){kind=small}
Swimming 
_pictogram.svg.png){kind=small}
Volleyball 
Medal table
* Host nation (Italy)
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  United States | 20 | 19 | 22 | 61 |
| 2 |  Ukraine | 17 | 6 | 4 | 27 |
| 3 | .svg.png){kind=small} Japan | 14 | 8 | 11 | 33 |
| 4 |  Russia | 10 | 14 | 10 | 34 |
| 5 |  China | 10 | 9 | 7 | 26 |
| 6 |  Italy* | 7 | 14 | 10 | 31 |
| 7 |  Cuba | 7 | 11 | 4 | 22 |
| 8 |  Hungary | 7 | 4 | 1 | 12 |
| 9 |  South Korea | 5 | 3 | 2 | 10 |
| 10 |  Slovakia | 4 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| 11 |  Romania | 3 | 4 | 6 | 13 |
| 12 | .svg.png){kind=small} Belarus | 3 | 2 | 3 | 8 |
| 13 |  Brazil | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| 14 |  France | 2 | 4 | 6 | 12 |
| 15 | .svg.png){kind=small} Australia | 2 | 3 | 5 | 10 |
| 16 |  South Africa | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| 17 |  Germany | 2 | 1 | 8 | 11 |
| 18 |  Great Britain | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| 19 |  Chinese Taipei (TPE) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 20 |  Nigeria | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 21 |  Czech Republic | 1 | 4 | 4 | 9 |
| 22 |  Mexico | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
 Netherlands | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | |
| 24 |  Poland | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 |
| 25 |  Greece | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 26 | .svg.png){kind=small} Canada | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 |
| 27 |  Jamaica | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 28 |  Kenya | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
 Portugal | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 30 | .svg.png){kind=small} Belgium | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
 Israel | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
 Spain | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 33 |  Austria | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| 34 |  Slovenia | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 35 |  Bulgaria | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
 Croatia | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
.svg.png){kind=small} Cyprus | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
 Qatar | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Totals (38 nations) | 129 | 128 | 135 | 392 | |