FISU Forum 2018 kicks off in Krasnoyarsk

The FISU President fielding questions this week at the education-focused 2018 FISU Forum

KRASNOYARSK – Student Sport as a springboard for innovative leadership – this is what 170 leaders of university sport will be discussing at the FISU Forum 2018 over the coming days. Hosted by the Siberian Federal University in Krasnoyarsk, the five-day educational programme in the city of the upcoming 2019 Winter Universiade has brought together inhabitants of five continents from 50 countries to kick off the 14^th edition of the Forum.

Throughout the Forum, students, athletes, officials, scientists and other key partners involved in the University Sport Movement and with FISU Member Associations will tackle some of the biggest issues that surround university sport.

Experts from the sports and education industries have already left their mark during the Forum’s opening panel discussion. In his opening address, FISU President Oleg Matytsin welcomed the guests, emphasising how FISU are driving towards innovation by implementing the FISU Ambassadors Programme, the International Day of University Sport, the Healthy Campus project and by improving ties with the Olympic Movement.

“The main goal of the Forum is to define the problems within student sport and through productive dialogue, try to find the right solution, President Matytsin said. “I believe that the main legacy of international sporting events, including the Winter Universiade, is the human element.”

The FISU President was joined on stage by Barry Maister, Chairman of the IOC Educational Committee; Verena Burk, FISU EDUC Committee Chair; Natalia Firulina, Advisor to the President of Siberian Federal University; and Richard Hsiao from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, for a lively panel discussion centred around the main topic of the Forum.

During the following plenary session, Mr. Maister focused on the qualities of student sport leaders:

“Leadership has generic competencies and those can be transferred among different fields. The main expectation of all of you should be to leave the FISU Forum with some knowledge that you were not previously aware of.”

Education Commission Barry Maister on Day 1: “Athletes are part of the movement. And there is an obligation on IOC and FISU to help them in career opportunities beyond sport.” 

Georgy Bilman, Director of the Volunteer Centre at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, reminded Forum participants of the importance of the work volunteers, and highlighted their role in determining the atmosphere of the international sporting events.

At the FISU Forum, it is all about the dialogue that is initiated by participants. Ian Fitzpatrick, representative of the Australian delegation, shared his impressions on the event and the host city of the Winter Universiade 2019.

“The purpose of my visit is to get acquainted with colleagues from other countries, share my Australian experience in supporting athletes and see how Krasnoyarsk is preparing for the Games,” Fitzpatrick said. “I plan to attend the Universiade together with the team of Australia. I really like Krasnoyarsk, we were warmly welcomed.”

 FISU Senior Executive Committee Member and FISU’s Chair of the Education and Communication Committees, Verena Burk is a steady presence at the FISU Forum seminar and plenary sessions

Verena Burk concluded the day’s events by reminding participants of the opportunity that lays ahead during the coming days:  “The FISU Forum is a platform to create atmosphere to reach goals, to build interaction. Ensure that you make use of these chances.”

The FISU Forum 2018 serves as the third test event for the Winter Universiade 2019. All participants are accommodated under one roof in the new Perya Dormitory Complex. Soon to be the Universiade’s Athletes’ Village, the FISU Forum provided the perfect occasion for checking the readiness of the premises.

 The infrastructure improvements, both finished and underway, are extensive and impressive throughout the city of Krasnoyarsk

The Forum runs until Friday 10 August, and is the only FISU event that gathers all the actors of university sport in one place. Students, junior and senior university sports managers, representatives of international sports and non-sports federations, organisers of major FISU events and renowned academic speakers are brought together in their united aim to develop and strengthen the worldwide University Sport Movement.

Other important themes of discussion at this year’s FISU Forum are equal opportunities in sport, dual career, values and ethics and good governance. Workshops on each of these sub-themes are being held every day.