FISU Delegates visit Brazil

BRASILIA – FISU President Claude-Louis Gallien and FISU Secretary-General/CEO Eric Saintrond, arrived in Brasilia (DF), on 5 December for a meeting with the Brazilian authorities, since the Federal Capital returns as a candidate city to host the 2019 Summer Universiade after having lost the bidding for the 2017 edition to Taipei City.

Alongside with Luciano Cabral, the President of the Brazilian University Sports Confederation (CBDU) and FISU Vice-President, the FISU President and SG/CEO were received in audience by Governor Agnelo Queiroz, who ratified the interest of Brasilia to host the Universiade in 2019.

The FISU delegation was also received at the Palacio do Planalto by Gleisi Hopffman, the Minister of the Civil House of the Presidency, who confirmed the support of the Federal Government to bring the Universiade to Brasilia.

After the meeting with the Minister of Civil House, the FISU and CBDU delegates were received in audience by Minister of Sport Aldo Rebelo, with the participation of Secretary of Education Afonso Barbosa and Ricardo Layser. Aldo Rebelo said that the Federal Government and all the staff at the Ministry of Sport will spare no effort to ensure that Brasilia is the headquarters of the Universiade in 2019. “To host the Universiade in Brazil will be a factor in the development of university sport in America and also complete the Government’s policy of President Dilma Russef to invest in education and sport as a way of social development”, the minister said.

FISU President Gallien and SG/CEO Saintrond toured the Estadio Nacional in Brasilia which, according to the proposed application of Brasilia to host the 2019 Universiade, will be the venue of the opening and closing ceremonies. Mr. Gallien was impressed by the grandeur of the work and the fact that the stadium is the 1st in the world to be certified by Lithium Premium. After exploring the stadium, the delegates also visited the Ayrton Sena Complex of Sport (gymnasium, water park and the site of the future tennis complex) and the Convention Centre, suggested as the location for the Media Centre during the Universiade.

Today 7 December, the FISU President and Secretary-General/CEO will travel to Goiania (GO), where they will be received by State Governor Marconi Perillo, who will submit the candidature of Goiania to host the 2016 World University Futsal Championship. The FISU delegates will also participate in the CBDU Forum and the Festival Award “Best of the Year”.

(Source: CBDU)