2020 FISU World Forum goes live as attendees join in from around the world

The university sports community once again showed its resilience as the FISU World Forum kicked off remotely today as the local organisers staged the base of their operations in Budapest – the original host city of the event – with attendees and presenters joining in online from around the world.

With the University of Physical Education of Budapest hosting the Hungarian University Sports Federation’s General Assembly in the morning, local participants stayed onsite to attend the first sessions of the FISU World Forum.

FISU President Oleg Matytsin joining in with his opening remarks for the 2020 FISU World Forum

Following the well-honed tradition of FISU events, the event kicked off with an opening ceremony as participants in the Hungarian capital and those joining in remotely were greeted by a host of luminaries.

This collection of distinguished speakers included Tünde Szabo, Secretary of State for Sports of Hungary; Dr Verena Burk, FISU Senior Executive Committee member and chair of the FISU Education Committee; and Prof Lajos Mocsai, rector of the University of Physical Education of Budapest. FISU President Oleg Matytsin and the IOC President Thomas Bach conveyed their welcoming remarks through back-to-back video messages.

The Forum lived up to its legacy as a powerful communication platform for the world’s university communities. The event’s first panel discussions got underway on the eight decades of history and heritage of FISU helming the University Sports Movement and kept rolling with a panel focused on the FISU Global Strategy. Taking centre stage were not only FISU officials but also Olympic and Universiade medalists and FISU Student Ambassadors. Day one’s diverse mix of personalities and stories perfectly highlighted the importance of all stakeholders within the university sports community.

Parallel workshops provided a marketplace for discussions as covered such topics as the newly-launched FISU Healthy Campus project, and the new FISU brand identity, and put the spotlight on activities planned for the International Day of University Sports, which will take place on 20 September. While the experience might have been a virtual one for the majority of participants, the DNA of the Forum as a place for idea and information exchange between participants and speakers held consistent throughout day one of this three-day event.