FISU EC in session
BRUSSELS – Today, 7 March, the FISU held its first session of the three-day Executive Committee meeting. The meeting was opened by FISU President Claude-Louis Gallien. After approval of the agenda and the minutes of the previous meeting, the FISU Board advanced to the points on the agenda. The morning session was devoted to the reports of the President, Treasurer and Secretary-General/CEO.
The morning session ended with the report of Marketing Director Vanessa Aiello.
President Gallien, Treasurer Danzandorj & SG/CEO Saintrond
After lunch, the chairs of the different committees presented their reports.
Development Committee
Laurent Briel, Stefan Bergh & Alison Odell
CDSU Chair Stefan Bergh commented on the activities of the Development Committee (CDSU). Two Continental Federations (AUSF & FASU) staged their General Assembly at the end of 2012. The FISU Help Programme for the 2013 Summer Universiade in Kazan was launched on 25 January. The deadline for the applications was scheduled for 1 March. The Development Department will now centralise all applications. The logistical aspects will be managed by the Administration Department. The countries that will receive the help will benefit from free travel, accommodation and participation for four people: a male and female athlete, a coach and a delegation official. The principle behind this project is to ensure that students will always benefit from the attendance of a Head of Delegation. This is also to ensure the participation of the HoD in the FISU General Assembly and other FISU events during the Universiade. CDSU has developed a document concerning strategic guidelines for the Continental Federations and is working to develop strategic guidelines for the NUSFs. The document will have the same disposition as the guidelines for the CFs. CDSU is also preparing strategic guidelines for FISU Special Projects. The CDSU Chair also announced that five more countries applied for FISU membership, i.e. Guinea Bissau, Trinidad & Tobago, Tonga, Vanuatu and Bahamas. CDSU also prepared a survey to collect valuable data on the NUSFs. The survey is available for the NUSFs on the extranet.
Intercontinental Council
Oleg Matytsin, Intercontinental Council Chair
Intercontinental Council Chair and 1st Vice-President Oleg Matystin reported on the previously held meeting of the council. Further to the ICC meeting in Córdoba, strategic guidelines for the FISU Associate Members (Continental Federations) were prepared by the CDSU group, including the mission of the CDSU, as set out in the statutes approved September 2012, the strategic objectives, the strategic development areas, high visibility of university sport, quality community structures, efficient and effective governance. This draft was submitted to the ICC members before being submitted to the FISU Executive Committee.
Education Committee
Alison Odell, Education Committee Chair
The Education Committee reviewed the amendments made to the statutes and internal regulations with regard to the establishment, purpose and support resources for the Student Committee. A draft amendment has been issued to the President for consideration. Alison Odell, the Committee Chair, also gave an update on the preparations of the FISU Forums of 2014 and 2016 and elaborated on the scheduled FISU Winter Conference during the Winter Universiade in Trento. The theme of this conference is ‘University Sport: Inspiring Innovation’. As far as the 2013 Rectors’ Forum is concerned, invitations have been issued across international academic organisations. EduC managed the application and assessment process for scholarships and made recommendations to the Metropolitan City authorities in Daegu. The city authorities approved EduC’s proposal and granted shcolarship to the following students:
– Yevgeniy Ektov (KZA), proposed by AUSF;
– Amaka Gessler (NZL), proposed by OUSA;
– Karolina Naja (POL), proposed by EUSA.
Mr. Myoungsun Lee from the 12th FISU Forum OC reported on the preparations of the 12th FISU Forum in Gwangju, Korea in 2014 and presented the FISU President with the official programme of the Forum.
Gender Equality Committee
Rosaura Mendez, Gender Equality Committee Chair
Committee Chair Rosaura Mendez reported on the committee’s activities. Different countries have expressed their interest about the 3rd FISU Sport Gender Equality Award, i.e. Belarus, Canada, Chile, South Africa and Spain. The progress of the work of women in sport are evident in all areas, but despite this apparent equality, there are still barriers to effective equality in leadership and skills given the entrenched stereotypes in education and employment models that restrict the ability to share and view of women, hence the Project Research “Working Together”. Project objectives are to diagnose the current situation presented by the participation of women in the various positions of responsibility, and management, and in physical and sports activities in the field of organizations affiliated to FISU. GEC will therefore organize a workshop during the Kazan Universiade to empower committee members on the project. Another objective is to elaborate a development strategy for the short, medium and long term to facilitate the gradual increase of the participation of women in the management of processes, decision making in physical and sports activities in the field of FISU. The organization of continental forums called “Working Together” are planned in the next two years as a meeting place for the exchange, discussion, analysis, criticism, innovation, partnerships, among all the people and institutions that, day by day, share and participate in college athletics.
Media and Communicatio
Verena Burk, Committee Chair & Dejan Susovic, Media Director
Media & Communication Committee Chair Verena Burk provided an update on the committee’s activities. The application process for the Young Reporters’ Programme at the Kazan Universiade is in full process with the deadline getting near. Media Director Dejan Susovic gave an overview of the broadcasting predictions on Eurosport and other networks worldwide for the upcoming Universiades. Mrs. Burk also elaborated on the media questionnaire which was sent to all FISU Member Associations to address the expectations of the FISU MA. A change of the publication schedule of the FISU Magazine was proposed as well, introducing an annual review next to three ‘normal-sized’ magazines.
Medical Committee
Dr. Larry Rink, Chair of the Medical Committee
Dr. Larry Rink, Chair of the Medical Committee, gave an update for the preparations Medical wise regarding the Kazan Universiade. The medical care is outstanding. The catering menu for the athletes has been approved as well. The Chair stressed the importance of working together with WADA and applauded the e-book Gwangju Legacy project in collaboration with WADA. The Chair also mentioned the ‘heart’ project the Kazan OC wants to start during the Universiade. Athletes can on a voluntary basis have an echocardiogram of the heart, an ECG and Blood Pressure check while receiving immediate feedback. The Kazan Medical School plans to follow-up on these athletes throughout the years amassing valuable scientific data. This data-collecting and processing will be a major contribution to science. Dr. Rink also reported on his visit of 2015 SU host Gwangju where the Medical preparations for the SU are still in a planning stage.
History Committee
President Gallien flanked by SG/CEO Saintrond
FISU President Gallien commented on the activities of the newly established History Committee. At the moment the committee is preparing documents for the pre-Universiade period of 1919-1939, which has been a very important period for the development of University Sport. The committee studies the international student movements and sport throughout the years and expects to have enough documentation to publish a book that will be distributed in Kazan to the GA and Conference participants.
C. Pierre, Press Officer