Marius Vizer (IJF President) & Eric Saintrond (FISU SG/CEO)
BELEK/ANTALYA – FISU was in attendance at the 12th annual SportAccord Convention that took place from 6 to 11 April in the seaside location of Belek/Antalya in Turkey. This edition attracted over 1600 attendees from almost 80 countries around the world, representing international sport federations and organisations, suppliers and delegates from numerous cities and regions, all related to and interested in sport and sporting events.
The FISU delegation was headed by Eric Saintrond (Secretary-General/CEO) who was accompanied by sports directors Marc Vandenplas (Summer Universiade Director) and Paulo Ferreira (World University Championships Director), together with Media and Communications Director, Dejan Susovic. The FISU booth was shared with delegates from the 2017 Almaty Winter Universiade OC, led by Mr Ilya Urazakov (Director of 2017 Almaty Executive Directorate).
Poul-Erik Høyer (BWF President), Eric Saintrond, FISU SG/CEO & Thomas Lund (BWF SG-COO)
The convention was an opportunity for FISU to meet many different partners. More than 20 meetings where held with international sport federations, some seeking to join the FISU sports programme and others to sign the join collaboration conventions FISU is undertaking with all its partner federations.
The inaugural signing was with World Archery, a long-standing supporter of the University Sports movement. Current WA Secretary General, Tom Dielen did the honours signing this important agreement. Other conventions were signed with FIDE (Chess), represented by Executive Director, Mr Nigel Freeman and the Badminton World Federation (BWF) was represented by its President Poul-Erik Høyer and the SG-COO Thomas Lund. The IOF (International Orienteering Federation), represented by Brian Porteous (President), Barbro Rönnberg (SG) and Hans Jørgen Kvåle (Ski Orienteeting Athletes’ Commission) also signed the agreement with FISU.
Eric Saintrond (FISU SG/CEO) & Hon Rhone (INF President)
The agreement with the International Tennis Federation (ITF) was signed with President Francesco Ricci Bitti (ITF), while the International Waterski and Wakeboard Federation (IWWF) had President Kuno Ritschard in attendance. The International Netball Federation (INF) was represented by the President Molly Rhone.
The World Bridge Federation (WBF) was also represented by its President, Guanarrigo Rona, as was the International American Football Federation (IFAF), with President Tommy Wiking signing the collaboration convention agreement with FISU SG Eric Saintrond. The final agreement signed at SportAccord was with none other than the President of the International judo Federation (IJF), Marius Vizer.
(Source: Paulo Ferreira, World University Championships Director)