Today, July 3rd, ODUPA, the FISU Continental Associate member of the Americas held its General Assembly in the Universiade Village, taking advantage of the Universiade with almost all ODUPA members present in Belgrade.
ODUPA President Julio JacobODUPA was founded on June 11th, 2007 in Blumenau, Brazil and ever since there have been numerous and ongoing efforts towards its consolidation in relationship with FISU.
Twenty ODUPA member federations were present at this 3rd General Assembly. Besides FISU President George Killian, a number FISU EC members were present as well, i.e. Stephan Bergh, Luciano Cabral, Pedro Dias, Leonz Eder and Alberto Gualtieri. ODUPA President Julio Jacob opened the General Assembly and ceded the floor to FISU President Killian for a welcome word.
‘I want to congratulate you for what you have accomplished within ODUPA since its foundation in 2007′, President Killian said to the ODUPA membership. Mr. Killian encouraged the delegates to undertake projects within University Sports of their country and region. ‘If you have a project for your country or region, you should contact Julio (Jacob). He is your President and he will take it up with FISU. Try to include the nations that border with your country so you can ‘walk’ over’, the FISU President suggested. ‘Try to include as many people as possible. Because what we are trying to do is to make FISU available for everybody’, Killian added.
‘The idea of continental organizations started some ten years ago’, Stefan Bergh, CDSU Chair said to the delegates. Now we have obtained efficiency also thanks to the work you have done over the past two years. As I said at the GA, this is not a cost for FISU. On the contrary, this is an investment in University Sport. Because supporting the work you are doing in your continent and your country, FISU at its Games has a high attendance of athletes. The key word is a strong dialogue, you, within your continent and we with our continental federations.’
Alberto Gilardoni Bobiere (PAR)After interventions also from Leonz Eder, Pedro Dias, Albeto Gualtiero and Luciano Cabral, the meeting proceeded with its agenda, i.e. the report from the President, the balance, reform of the statutes and miscellaneous items. In this last category, Alberto Gilardoni, President of ANDUP, the NUSF from Paraguay, made a presentation on the 1st South-American University Tennis Championship, staged by COSUD and the 1st Panamerican Men’s Futsal Championship staged by ODUPA which will both be hosted in Asunción, Paraguay from November 2nd to 8th, 2009.
FISU President Killian & ODUPA President Jacob
Stephan Bergh, FISU Vice-President and CDSU Chair
Pedro Dias, Roberto Gualtieri & Leonz Eder