Nordic-Baltic Cooperation Strengthened in Tartu

Tartu – From May 21st to 23rd, the leaders of the student sports federations of Lithuania, Latvia, Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark visited the city of Tartu, Estonia in order to celebrate the 26th SELL Student Games and develop regional cooperation in student sports in the Baltic and Nordic regions.

Mr. Ceslovas Garbaliauskas, the President of the Lithuanian Students’ Sports Association, Mr. Uldis Svinks, the President and Mrs. Anastasija Smirnova, the Secretary-General of the Latvian Universities Sports Federation, Mrs. Kaisa Myllylä, the President, Mrs. Hilkka Laitinen, the Secretary-General and Mr. Jukka Tirri, the Sports Director of the Finnish Student Sports Federation, Mr. Karl Olav Haaland, the President and Mrs. Andrea Scmalzried, the Sports Director and of the Norwegian Association of University Sport, Mrs. Helle Greve Barsley, the President and Mr. Ebbe Rasmussen, the Secretary-General of the Danske Studenters Idraetsforbund and Mr. Josef Ahman, the Secretary-General of the Swedish University Sports Federation visited Tartu on the invitation of their colleagues, Mr. Ants Veetõusme, the President and Mr. Tarmo Jaakson, the Secretary-General of the Estonian Academic Sports Federation.

On May 21st, the representatives of the four SELL-countries – Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – had their annual meeting related to the SELL-Games. On May 22nd, the representatives of the Nordic and Baltic student sports federations had a meeting, where different cooperation possibilities were discussed. It was agreed to initiate coordination of the calendars of the national student sports competitions and promote each others’ events. To strengthen the regional cooperation and increase the exchange of information, the Nordic-Baltic Cooperation Network was created. The representatives agreed to meet annually during the SELL Games. The next SELL Games will take place in Kaunas, Lithuania, from May 12 to 15, 2011.

Kairis Ulp, FISU Assessor

Ceslovas Garbaliauskas, the President of the Lithuanian Students’ Sports Association proudly shows the invitation for the next SELL Games

(Photos: Jassu Hertsmann)