LAUSANNE – The President of the International University Sports Federation (FISU), Oleg Matytsin, has concluded his week-long visit to Rio de Janeiro as the guest of IOC President Thomas Bach at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Matytsin’s stay in Rio – from 1-8 August – covered the period of the IOC Session, the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, and the first three days of the Games. His invitation came directly from President Bach and represents the first time that a FISU President has had the honour of joining the Olympic family for their pre-Games IOC Session.
Matytsin also visited the Olympic Village and the Olympic Park, and held meetings with key Olympic stakeholders, including:
• Sheikh Ahmad al Fahad al Sabah, President of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA)
• Bruno Grandi, President of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG)
• Ary Graça, President of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB)
• David Zaslav, President & CEO of Discovery Communications
• Peter Hutton, CEO of Eurosport
• Bian Zhiliang, President of Taishan Sports Industry Group
• Alain Zobrist, CEO of Swiss Timing
FISU President Matytsin (left) with Ary Graça, FIVB President
Reflecting on his time in Rio, President Matytsin said:
“I am truly honoured to have been given the opportunity by Thomas Bach to attend the Olympic Games and I am very grateful to him for this opportunity.
“FISU and the IOC have always shared the same belief in the benefits and power of sport – and in the past few years our two organisations have become more and more aligned.
“The warm and friendly nature of everyone involved in organising these Games has shone through. I have no doubt that Rio 2016 is set to be a glorious Games.
“Overall, my time in Rio has been very positive. It has given me the chance to attend the IOC Session and establish contact with key decision-makers in the Olympic Movement, who could help to strengthen ties between National Olympic Committees and National University Sports Federations. It also provided me with a great opportunity to meet with some of FISU’s long-term partners, such as Swiss Timing, Eurosport, and Taishan Sports Industry, allowing us to discuss further projects and cooperation.
Based on his time in Rio, President Matytsin has established three resolutions which will help shape the FISU Strategy currently being developed. This strategy will ultimately guide all FISU’s operations over the next 10 years.
The three resolutions are:
• As the Olympic Movement and the international sports industry confront new challenges, FISU must be ready to play its part in meeting them in a way which is totally compliant with Olympic Agenda 2020
• FISU will continue to build strong relations with Olympic stakeholders and explore all opportunities for collaboration
• As part of the global fight against doping in sport, FISU will look to expand its work in anti-doping education