SAN JOSE – On Thursday 1 October, the first Gala of the Pan-American Federation of University Sports, FISU America, was held in San José, Costa Rica in which the contribution and commitment of different actors of university sport in the region was recognized. This activity was held in the framework of the Open University Taekwondo Championship held from 2 to 4 October at the National Gymnasium.
The event was attended by international guests such as FISU 1st Vice-President Oleg Mastysin, FUSC Secretary-General Yang Liguo and Vice-President Shen Zhen.
The event began at 7:00 pm with a speech by the President of the Costa Rican Federation of University Sports FECUNDE, Gerardo Corrales, who welcomed and reaffirmed the commitment of his organization to develop the university sports movement in Costa Rica and beyond.
FISU Assessor Rosaura Méndez expressed in her speech the importance of developing strategies to increase and improve the participation of university students in sports competition and reaffirm the importance of maintaining good relations between the national, continental and international federations in order to join efforts.
Later, the four Costa Rican public universities were awarded for their contribution and commitment to the development of university sports. In the same way, the delegations present were honoured: El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Also the founders of FECUNDE were awarded.
The event ended with a speech by Mr. Oleg Mastysin and a cultural presentation by representatives of the State Distance University which hosted the Costa Rican JUNCOS University Sports Games.
(Source: Natasha Campos Méndez, Leader of the Pan-American University Sport Journalist Network)