Basile has been seeking to promote the university sport event, with organisers having celebrated the 100 days to go milestone on Monday (March 25).

The Opening Ceremony is due to take place at San Paolo Stadium on July 3.

The arena, used for the 1990 FIFA World Cup and home of Serie A football team S.S.C. Napoli, will be refurbished prior to the event.

It requires new seating, glass balustrades and "waterproofing of the walkways".

A "colouring proposal" is also being considered by the football club and the region.

According to Italian news agency ANSA, Basile claimed the Ceremony would be a “spectacular show”.

"It will obviously be smaller than the actual Olympics but similar in idea,” Basile was quoted as saying.

He added that Italian federations had been supportive towards providing top national athletes to compete at the Universiade.

Basile cited Alex Meret, a goalkeeper at Napoli and an Italian under-21 international, as an athlete that organisers are “dreaming” of involving.

Italian men’s 100 metres record holder Filippo Tortu and swimmer Gregorio Paltrinieri are among the athletes also expected to feature.

"The Italian Soccer Federation has promised to send a competitive team in football," said Basile. 

"The football federation is giving us a big hand.

"The swimming federation is expected to enter 1,500 metres freestyle world and Olympic champion Gregorio Paltrinieri, which wouldn't be bad.

 “We're also dreaming of involving Meret, who is a university student, but we well know it isn't easy for top-level clubs to loan their players in that period of the year.”

Naples 2019 is due to take place between July 3 and 14.

The Italian city was officially confirmed as the host in May 2016 following a reopened bidding process after Brasilia withdrew in January 2015.

The Brazilian capital had been unable to meet financial commitments.

It means Naples has been given limited time to prepare.