KOVROV – From 10 to 13 October, the International Forum ‘Russia – a Country of Sports’ took place in the Vladimir Region of Russia. This year’s forum, which is being held annually under the patronage of the President of Russia, has gathered hundreds of sports administrators and decision-makers from different world regions. The list of speakers included Russian President Vladimir Putin himself, President of the Association of Summer Olympics International Federations Francesco Ricci Bitti, President of the World Olympians Association Joël Bouzou, President of the International Fencing Federation Alisher Usmanov and many others.
FISU President Oleg Matytsin
FISU President Oleg Matytsin took the opportunity of the Forum to inform the audience about the FISU-WADA Anti-Doping Programme for Universities. According to Mr Matytsin, restrictive measures alone are not enough to fight doping, which increasingly becomes a major challenge for global professional sports. FISU is promoting its educational project with WADA to raise awareness about the dangers of doping among students and the university community in general.
FISU President Oleg Matytsin with Mrs Bezdenezhnykh and Maxim Urazov (Krasnoyarsk Directorate)
Later on, FISU President welcomed all participants at the plenary session ‘Sports-2030. A Programme for the Future’. In his address Mr Matytsin stressed the importance of university sports in Russia and praised the efforts of the country, which hosted a benchmark Summer Universiade in Kazan in 2013 and is currently preparing to host the 2019 Winter Universiade in Krasnoyarsk.
FISU President’s participation programme also included participation in the meeting of the Presidential Council for the Development of Physical Culture and Sport.
The international sporting event in the Vladimir region allowed FISU President to discuss cooperation opportunities with ASOIF President Francesco Ricci Bitti, as FISU is working to expand the scope of its partnerships with international sports federations. Mr Matytsin also met with Elena Bezdenezhnykh, Vice-President of Norilsk Nickel. The company, which is one of the key FISU sponsors, is currently considering the expansion of its partnership with the Federation.