EC Meeting in Harbin: Day 1
February 29th, 2008
Vice-Governor Cheng Youdong
Today, February 29th, the FISU Executive Committee held its first day of meetings in Harbin, China, host city of the 2009 Winter Universiade. Mr. Cheng Youdong, Vice-Governor of the Heilongjiang Province welcomed the Executive Committee and wished them a fruitful 3-day meeting in the ice capital of China.
President George Killian summarized his activities promoting the FISU since the last EC meeting in Brussels. Together with Sinisa Jasnic he attended the IOC Sports Forum in Lausanne all keyed around marketing. After the Forum the President continued his trip to Belgrade to meet the Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia. While in Belgrade the President also met with the Rector of the University of Belgrade and attended the General Assembly of the European University Sports Association. Mr. Killian also spent a week in the FISU HQ in Brussels attending several meetings and working close together with Eric Saintrond, the new Secretary-General.
Next on the agenda was the report from Mr. Danzandorj Bayasgalan, the FISU Treasurer who presented the financial information of the year 2007. Then the floor was given to Secretary-General Eric Saintrond who thanked the President and the Treasurer for their assistance in the first four months in his new position. Mr. Saintrond gave an overview of the activities of the several departments of the FISU Office.
Vice-President Stefan Bergh reported on the activities of the Development Committee, focussing on the development of the Continental Associations and elaborated on the development seminar held in Apia, Samoa to meet with the new continental federation of Oceania. The seminar was a success as there is room to further develop the University Sport in that region.
After the coffee break Mr. Sinisa Jasnic presented the report of the Marketing Committee. He reported that Tissot of the Swiss Timing Group will become a partner of FISU. He also mentioned the signing of a memorandum of cooperation with Siemens and his meeting with Metaksan, which is also interested in becoming a FISU partner. Next March a contract will be signed with Russia TV to broadcast the two next Games. Agreements were also made with Fox sports channel, dedicated to university sports (60 Million viewers, paid channel – part of satellite channels); Eurosport 2, concentrated on team sports, paid TV and EBU. Mr. Zhang, sales manager Gerflor China gave a brief introduction of the cooperation between FISU and Gerflor, which is already a signed partner.
Next Mrs. Verena Burk reported on the on the newly installed Women’s Committee. Mrs. Burke defined the vision and objectives of the Committee and the need for FISU to establish gender equality activities to achieve these objectives. A number of measures for the period 2007-2011 were proposed, i.e. a research project about the situation of women in the university sports movement; specific sessions and workshops a the FISU Conferences and Forums about women in the university sports movement; a FISU Women and Sports Award; Relations and partnerships with international sport and women’s organisations; Reporting about women in the university sports movement and a Review of FISU policies and guidelines with regard to inclusion of gender equity.
Then Mr. Omar Al Hai reported on the last meeting of the International Control Committee in Brussels last January. Before the lunch break, Alison Odell, Chair of the Committee for Office Table of Organisation commented on the reorganisation of the Office Staff chart.
Sumate Yamnoon, Executive Director of UBOC 2007
After the lunch break the Organising Committee of the 2007 Summer Universiade in Bangkok presented its Final Report. Dr. Sumate Yamnoon, Executive Director of UBOC 2007 gave the final numbers and facts of this 2007 major FISU event. A total of 9,006 participants from 151 countries took part in the Games, who were welcomed by a staff of 18,417 and 9,759 volunteers, whereas 81 sport venues were used. Important impacts of the 2007 Summer Universiade to the Thai sport community were the experience of world class games for the Thai athletes, the renovation of a number of venues, the installation of state-of-the-art equipment in various venues. An important legacy, as some of these venues were already re-used for the 2007 South-East Asian Games which were held in Bangkok in December last year. An economic impact was the 45 million USD spent in Thailand during these games, as well as the job creation.
Belgrade 2009 Executive Director Zoran Jovanovic
Next the floor was given to the OC of the 2009 SU Belgrade to present its progress report. Executive Director Zoran Jovanovic presented an update of the latest activities. All major projects have passed their initial phases and the progress is evident. The organization is growing as planned, employing young, highly motivated educated people with considerable experience in organization of sports events. Mr. Jovanovic and the other delegates elaborated on their accomplishments since August 2007 up to today. This period has seen some significant accomplishments which include the progress of the construction of the Athletes’ Village which is ahead of schedule, the technical documentation for the reconstruction of sport venues is almost finished, for each of the 21 sports there has been appointed a director of competition and the budget of the Universiade has been incorporated into the State and City Budgets for 2008.
FISU 1st Vice-President and CESU Chair Claude-Louis Gallien (l) & FISU Assessor Marian Dymalski (r)
Before ending the first day of sessions, Mr. Marian Dymalski presented the progress report of the 9th FISU Forum which will take place in Krakow, Poland July 2008 and Mr. Claude-Louis Gallien presented the report of the CESU Meeting that took place at the FISU HQ in Brussels last January.
FISU President George Killian
FISU Treasurer Danzandorj Bayasgalan
FISU Secretary-General Eric Saintrond
FISU Vice-President and Vice-Chair of the Development Committee Stefan Bergh
FISU Assessor and Chair of the Marketing Committee Sinisa Jasnic
FISU Assessor and Chair of the Women's Committee Verena Burk
FISU Assessor and Chair of the CIC Omar Al Hai
FISU Assessor Alison Odell
