Eric Saintrond (left) and Oleg Matytsin (right)Today, FISU Secretary General-CEO Eric Saintrond was awarded the Order of Friendship by decree of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, and was handed over by Oleg Matytsin, the Sport Minister of Russia.
Russia has previously hosted Summer and Winter editions of the FISU World University Games to a very high standard in 2013 and 2019 and is already building towards the Ekaterinburg 2023 FISU World University Games. The nation is also host to the FISU Volunteer Leaders Academy (FVLA) in Kazan, a legacy project from the Kazan 2013 Summer Universiade.
The Order of Friendship is awarded to Russian and foreign nationals for special merit in strengthening peace, friendship, cooperation and understanding between nations, for fruitful work on the convergence and mutual enrichment of cultures of nations and peoples; for the active conservation, development and promotion of the cultural and historical heritage of Russia; for great contribution to the implementation of joint ventures with the Russian Federation, major economic projects and attracting investments into the economy of the Russian Federation; for broad charitable activities.
