Ten new members attend their first FISU Executive Committee Meeting in Lausanne

The Healthy Campus programme, progress reports from the 2025 FISU World University Games Summer and Winter and the nomination of the new committees were the highlights of this first EC Meeting under Leonz Eder’s presidency.

“I am happy with all the fruitful discussions we have had. And I am really pleasantly surprised at how fast the new members were integrated, already playing important roles in this very good Executive Committee”, summarized the happy FISU President, Leonz Eder.

The two days of meetings took place at the Royal Savoy Hotel in Lausanne, Switzerland, at only a stone’s throw from FISU Headquarters. They started off with the unveiling of a plaque in FISU’s Synathlon building, celebrating FISU’s 75^th anniversary.

One important point of the agenda was the appointment of the chairs and members of the different FISU Committees. Nominations that helped take a significant step towards gender equality as women’s representation in those commissions has gone from 18% to almost 40%!

Healthy Campus MoU with Australia

This Executive Committee Meeting was also the perfect opportunity for finalising the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UniSport Australia to promote FISU’s Healthy Campus Programme.

“UniSport Australia believes that the FISU Healthy Campus platform is a great way to connect all parts of the University that teach, research and deliver sport, health and wellbeing to the University campus, commented Dr Lisa Gowthorp, Chair UniSport Australia. Entering into an MoU with FISU is not just about promoting value the FISU Healthy Campus platform to its University members but to open up the opportunities for its members to join a global network of like-minded tertiary institutions who are committed to improving the health of its community. We would like to commend FISU for the development of the FISU Healthy Campus platform and look forward to encouraging all of our member universities to become a signatory.”

In Lausanne, the organising committees of North Carolina 2029, Chungcheong 2027, Torino 2025 and Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games all gave their progress reports.

The next Winter Games recently celebrated their first big event, “Lights on U”, during which their mascot TO Tag was presented to the Torino people but also to the world. With over 6000 spectators, the ice gala was a great success, also thanks to the volunteers. This was their first concrete contribution to the Torino 2025 FISU World University Games, which will be the first ones to welcome para-athletes.

The recruitment process for volunteers for the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games, “No Games without U”, was recently launched with a high level of interest and excitement as the organizing committee received over 750 applications within a few hours!

2026 FISU World Forum host announced

The registrations for the 2024 FISU World Forum, which will take place in Zagreb, Croatia at the end of August are progressing nicely. “We are expecting about 250 people, so we still have the capacity to welcome many more!” assured Marko Žunić, President of the Organising Committee. It was also confirmed that the 2026 FISU World Forum will take place in Östersund, Sweden.

Sustainability: a three-step plan

On the very important subject of sustainability, FISU is pursuing its three step plan aligned with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change: FISU as an organisation, FISU as a leader of the University Sport Movement, and FISU as the owner of university sports events.

2026 FISU World University Championships attributions

And, last but not least, the following 2026 FISU World University Championships have been attributed. Canoe Sport to Székesfehérvár (HUN), Cross Country to Cassino (ITA), Futsal to Poznan (POL), Handball to Pessac (FRA), Mind Games to Liaocheng (CHN), Rugby Sevens to Stellenbosch (RSA), Shooting Sport to New Taipei City (TPN), Triathlon to Nyon (SUI) and Rowing to London, Ontario (CAN).

The Executive Committee will hold its next meeting at the end of September 2024.

Written by Thérèse Courvoisier, photos by Jorge Da Silva