President of Brazil receives FISU President and SG/CEO in Audience

 Audience with the President of Brazil

BRASILIA – On 17 October, 2013 FISU President Claude-Louis Gallien and FISU Secretary-General/CEO Eric Saintrond were received in audience by the President of Brazil, Mrs Dilma Rousseff. Present also were the Governor of the Federal District Agnelo Queiroz, the Minister of Sport Aldo Rebelo and CBDU President and FISU Vice-President Luciano Cabral, as well as the Executive Coordinator of the 2019 Summer Universiade Bidding Committee Julio Filgueira.

President Dilma Rousseff said that one of the strategic projects of the Brazilian government is expanding the access to higher education. She also mentioned that the Brazilian government is investing heavily in education and hosting the 2019 Summer Universiade would help consolidate sport as a tool for educational purposes. Mrs Rousseff reaffirmed her country’s interest in hosting the Universiade. In the Bidding Dossier, the President signed the country’s commitment to comply with all FISU requirements, which was ratified in the audience yesterday afternoon.

Audience with Minister of Sport Aldo Rebelo

Eric Saintrond, Claude-Louis Gallien & Natalya Kosterna

During the audience in the headquarters of the Ministry of Sport, Minister Aldo Rebelo also reaffirmed the guarantees to hold the 2019 Summer Universiade, the commitments demanded by FISU and, mainly, Brazil’s interest in hosting the event.

The Minister stressed that FISU’s Brazilian Member Association CBDU is a confederation with a long history, one of the strongest in Brazil and confirmed that university sports has helped in the formation of the important Brazilian leaders of today.

FISU Inspection Tour started

Luciano Cabral

Yesterday, the FISU delegates began their inspection visit of the city of Brasilia, candidate to host the 2019 Summer Universiade.

The schedule of the visit, which will continue until 19 October, foresees a presentation of the technical aspects of the candidature; a visit of the sports venues and furthermore audiences with authorities at federal and city-state levels.

The first work session included a work meeting with CBDU President Luciano Cabral, the Assistant Secretary of the Sport Celio Renne, and Deputy Secretary of Tourism of Brasilia Geraldo Bentes.

Luciano Cabral presented the concept of the 2019 candidacy, the facilities that Brasilia offers, the importance of this student-sport event for South America and stressed the support of Brasilia’s citizens.

FISU President Gallien said that Brazil is considered one of the major emerging countries and its development should be focused on the education of youth. ‘Sport is a part of this education, which should be interdisciplinary’, Mr Gallien said. The FISU President mentioned that the Brazilian city of Porto Alegre hosted the only Universiade in Brazil in 1963, exactly 50 years ago. Mr Gallien recalled that at that time, Brasilia was emerging but today it is a city of culture and young people should be proud of their city and their country. He said that a successful bid of Brasilia might indeed trigger the opportunity to transform Brasilia and Brazil into a hub to further develop FISU in South America.

(Source: CBDU)