Eric Michalak with FISU SG Eric Saintrond
BRUSSELS – Today, September 28th, a delegate from New Caledonia visited the FISU Headquarters in Brussels. Mr. Eric Michalak, Director Sport Department of UNC, the University of New Caldeonia (Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie) met with FISU Secretary-General/CEO Eric Saintrond and Director of Educational and Development Services Kolë Gjeloshaj to discuss development of university sport activities on the island.
New Caledonia has a special status of sui generis collectivity of France with a proper government. It is located in the sub-region of Melanesia in the southwest Pacific. It comprises a main island (Grande Terre), the Loyalty Islands, and several smaller islands. The most popular sports are soccer, futsal and beach soccer. Everybody plays soccer on the beach, hence the popularity of the latter.
UNC counts some 2,800 students of which 65 % are female. The Student Sport Service provides opportunities for the students to practice sports and competitions in futsal, volleyball, football, climbing up to 22 sports, for men and women are organized.
At the moment, NC student sport resides under the FFSU, the French NUSF. ‘But this does not facilitate things, considered the distance and traveling costs for our teams to take part in French mainland competitions’ Mr. Michalak explains. However, with the current development of OUSA, the Oceania Continental Associate member of FISU, things might change. ‘We are looking to take part in future OUSA activities which would enhance participation and diminish traveling costs considerably. We therefore rely on collaborating with FISU and the International University Sport Movement to take student-athletes from New Caledonia out of their isolation so they can take part in the FISU events. We will also study the possibility to host WUCs’, Mr. Michalak told FISU Media.
C. Pierre, FISU Press Officer
Eric Michalak
Eric Michalak with Kolë Gjeloshaj, Director of Educational and Development Services