Sports values, development discussions and curling practice highlight Day 3 at FISU Forum

A curling volunteer demonstrating how to throw a stone during the evening activity at the FISU Forum, an educational event that takes place in the upcoming Winter Universiade 2019 host city of Krasnoyarsk

KRASNOYARSK, RUSSIAN FEDERATION – The FISU Forum is a vivid place with a lot of positive noise. There’s a constant hence familiar sound of intense discussions, cultural exchange and, at times, singing performances by the participants. But on Wednesday evening, the conclusion of day three of the 2018 FISU Forum, a different, rare new theme added to the chimes of the five-day educational event.

A dry, sharp ‘clack’ that came from two granite rocks colliding. It was a night out on the ice rink for the 170 participants at this year’s Forum in the upcoming the host city of the Winter Universiade 2019.

Winter Universiade Director Milan Augustin temporarily changed FISU’s motto ‘Today’s Stars, Tomorrow’s Leaders’ into ‘Today’s Curlers, Tomorrow’s Forum Participants.’ And the curling newbies were following through, having a blast. Instructed by Olga Zharkova, the Olympian and eleven-time Russian champion, participants made their first steps and throws on the rink.

 Team South Africa taking a break from the action on the ice where the 170 FISU Forum participants were learning the intricacies of Curling from Olga Zharkova, Olympian and eleven-time Russian champion

“The curling competition demonstrated what the Forum is all about. Amazing venues and bringing together individuals from across the world, competing in a friendly manner,” Student Committee member Jordan Kenny said. “And we may have even found a few future champions.” It was Inaugural FISU Forum curling competition and another test event held at Platinum Arena in Krasnoyarsk, where the Opening and Closing Ceremony as well as the figure skating competitions of the Universiade will be held.

The curling activity was the perfect ending and a welcome variety to another day of brainstorming sessions, deep talks and keynotes, this time on the sub-theme of values and ethics in sport.

 An expert in good governance practices, Laurent Torrecillas on sports management strategies that all levels of sports coaches and administers should subscribe to, from the local, grass roots to the International Federation level

Laurent Torrecillas, a governance expert from France and founder of Inuksuit International, presented on sports management strategies. Alexander Ukhov, vice-president of the Eurasian Academy of Television and Radio and mentor at FISU’s Young Reporters’ at the 2013 Summer Universiade in Kazan, focused his lecture to ethical issues in professional sports, where he implored to the audience that the atmosphere in the sports community and unity at major competitions depends not only on the participants, but also on the spectators and fans who support the athletes.

FISU Forum attendee Sarah BaileyIn the following leadership seminars, participants discussed the best international practices of student-sport development, learning about the The FISU-WADA Anti-Doping eTextbook as well as tackling the culture of silence tied to the epidemic of sexual harassment.

“It is amazing that there are so many new perceptions and opinions on how people view issues of sport like sexual harassment and gender equality within various countries and how those are perceived, acted and enforced,” said Sarah Bailey, a student-athlete from the United States of America who is in Krasnoyarsk for the Forum. “It’s been awesome getting a wide range of perspectives and views from others, we can discuss things and learn how we can come together as a cohesive unit and bring solutions to the table.”

Students spent their afternoon working on the projects focused on volunteerism, the International Day of University Sport (IDUS) and the 2019 Winter Universiade, on which they will present on Friday. It was once again the common application of teamwork and the familiar sounds of group discussions that created the typical Forum noise – until the clack of curling stones broke with the usual.