FISU President completes successful visit to Olympic Games

President Leonz Eder met with more than 15 key sports leaders including Presidents of Federations, IOC Members, representatives of other sports organisations and government representatives.

International University Sports Federation (FISU) President, Leonz Eder completed a successful visit to Paris at the start of the Olympic Games, meeting more than 15 key sports leaders and taking part at the 142^nd IOC Session.

President Eder’s activities enabled positive discussions over future editions of the FISU World University Games, which has proven its importance in providing a springboard for those aspiring to compete at the Olympic Games, as demonstrated by the great number of student-athletes participating in Paris 2024.

Discussions about future FISU World University Games

Preparations were discussed for the Torino 2025 FISU World University Games Winter with IOC Executive Board member Ivo Ferriani and Honorary IOC Member Manuela Di Centa.

In the presence of former UN Secretary General and Chair of the IOC Ethics Commission Ban Ki-moon, Eder discussed the preparations for the Chungcheong 2027 FISU World University Games Summer with Lee Kee-heung, IOC Member and President of the Korean Sport and Olympic Committee.

Looking even further forward, the FISU President explored hosting opportunities for future editions of the FISU World University Games with government representatives, including at sessions hosted by Slovak Olympic and Sports Committee, the Japanese Olympic Committee and the House of Swiss Sport.

President Eder received an enthusiastic response from the Slovakian President Peter Pellegrini on the possibility of organising ice sports in the country during meetings at the “Maison Slovaque”. President Pellegrini expressed his support for such a project to strengthen tourism in Slovakia, and it was discussed in greater depth with the Slovakian Minister of Tourism and Sport, Dušan Keketi, and the Secretary General of Slovak Olympic Committee, Jozef Liba.

During meetings organised by the city of Lausanne and the Canton de Vaud, Leonz Eder used the opportunity to further discuss with the President of Switzerland, Mrs Viola Amherd (middle), the possibility of Switzerland hosting a future FISU World University Games Winter on the road to the Olympic Winter Games 2038, for which Switzerland has entered privileged dialogue with the IOC.

The upcoming FISU Executive Committee meeting in Rabat in September was the topic of the exchange with Nawal El-Moutawakel from Morocco, the newly-elected IOC Vice-President.

Maintaining personal contacts

With the Presidents and Secretary Generals of many sports federations, the main focus was on consolidating cooperation with the FISU, initiating Memorandums of Understanding and agreements and maintaining personal contacts.

Additionally, it was agreed with the International Chess Federation (FIDE) President Arkady Dvorkovich that a collaboration convention would be signed during the IF Forum in Lausanne in October, at the latest.

Finally, President Eder met with the President of the French University Sports Federation Cédric Terret, for an exchange of ideas concerning the organisation of FISU events in France, the host country of this Summer’s Olympic Games. President Eder’s action-packed visit to France was key into shaping exciting times ahead.