As the world of university sport stands at the threshold of yet another new year, the International University Sports Federation (FISU) looks ahead to 2021 with renewed hope and enthusiasm. Before that though, let’s run through some of the best moments from 2020, despite all the challenges.
10. WUC Speed Skating in Amsterdam
Yes, it may be hard to believe now, but a World University Championship did take place on the field in Amsterdam, in March this year. However, due to the rapidly developing situation related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the final day had to be cancelled.
Nevertheless, there were three great days of action and most importantly, it was an event staged by the students, for the students. Former FISU athletes Ronald Ligtenberg and Bart Vreugdenhil were both part of the Organising Committee and that’s what made this event truly special for FISU.
9. #FitAtHome online campaign
Through the year 2020, the world had to put plans on hold due to the pandemic, and FISU was no exception. Even though FISU had to cancel most of the sporting calendar for the year, silver linings appeared in the form of innovation.
To bring university sport fans and athletes together, FISU launched the online #FitAtHome campaign in March. The four-week-long campaign brought together FISU athletes, Olympic champions and even FISU staff, who shared tips for working out at home, and helped the community stay mentally strong and healthy, through the first lockdown.
8. UWC Football Team Challenge
Shortly thereafter, the exciting UWC Football Team Challenge virtual tournament was launched, which brought together participating teams from November 2019’s inaugural University World Cup Football tournament. The pathbreaking tournament in Jinjiang, China, pitted the best university teams against each other in the world’s most popular sport.
So, we decided to repeat the fun and replay the tournament – in a different, digital format!
Participating teams were invited to submit one football juggling compilation that gave the impression of a seamless sequence, even though everything was shot in individual homes, during the time of isolation and first lockdown.
A public vote on FISU’s Instagram decided the winners at every stage and more than 10,000 votes were cast in the final!
7. FISU eSports Challenge
The unprecedented success of the UWC Football Team Challenge gave way to FISU’s first-ever eSports Challenge in early July – a FIFA 20 competition that produced the world’s first Saudi woman ever to win an international e-football title, in Najd Fahd.
The eSports Challenge was a grand success for many reasons, but most of all because it was new territory for international university sports. Once again, FISU played the role of pioneer to experiment and innovate with news sports and formats.
Never before had the online university sport community come together as strongly as it did this year. At the end of thirteen such back-to-back online campaigns between March and September, FISU’s digital engagement jumped to an all-time high, paving the way for future campaigns, pandemic or not.
6. Successful postponement of Lucerne 2021
There were many more positives that came along with the challenges of the year. Foremost among them perhaps was the successful postponement of the Lucerne 2021 Winter Universiade which was originally scheduled to be held in January 2021.
“One of the most important achievements for us this year was the successful postponement of the FISU World University Games in Lucerne,” said FISU President Oleg Matytsin. “Together with our Swiss partners, the National University Sports Federations and the International Federations of winter sports, we were able to find the best solution for everyone, guaranteeing the organisation of the Lucerne games in December 2021.”
Finally, all stakeholders agreed on December 2021, which meant one-year-to-go for FISU’s flagship winter sports event was celebrated on 11 December 2020.
5. Launch of FISU Healthy Campus
FISU Secretary General-CEO Eric Saintrond called the successful launch of the FISU Healthy Campus programme, “one of the triumphs of the year”.
The FISU Healthy Campus project was launched on 12 May 2020, opening up an unprecedented network for universities around the world to share best practices, successful projects and knowledge in the area of maintaining health and well-being on campuses. More than 40 major global universities had come on board, as programme reached its six-month milestone in November.
“Despite everything, we had the successful global launch of the Healthy Campus programme this year, which already has around fifty major universities on board,” said Eric Saintrond.
4. FISU Volunteer Leaders Academy
The FISU Secretary General-CEO also highlighted the success of FISU’s Education programmes through the year, which were held online due to the pandemic, but were as well-received as previous editions, if not better.
“Our Education programmes such as the FISU Volunteer Leaders Academy were organised entirely online for the first time in our history,” said Saintrond. “It was a huge success and allowed participation in greater numbers than ever before.”
The FISU leadership now believes that this format will pave the way for more virtual and hybrid events in 2021. The next edition of the FISU Volunteer Leaders Academy in 2021 has already been planned as a hybrid event, with virtual as well as in-person components.
3. FISU World Forum 2020
Fifteen hundred participants, including 600 university students, took part in the 2020 FISU World Forum. There were 105 countries represented, with 15 workshops and seven roundtable discussions held over three days.
While it may not be the same as the in-person event that brings the world of university sport together, the online edition proved to be more than just an assembly point for the National University Sports Federations. The Budapest-hosted event fully lived up to the billing from the previous 14 editions as the gathering spot where the worlds of sports and education come together to share the projects and programmes that they have developed that have contributed to the University Sports Movement.
2. Chengdu 2021 on track
With just about eight months to go now, for FISU’s biggest sports event – the summer edition of the World University Games – all eyes are on Chengdu, People’s Republic of China, that will host the event from 18-29 August.
Even as the year comes to a close and the world prepares for the end of year holidays, some FISU team members are hard at work in Chengdu, having undergone several weeks of quarantine, in order to work for the preparation of the summer games.
Venue construction is on track, a worldwide song contest has been launched and applications are open for the Young Reporters Programme. Lots to look forward to!
1. A new approach
FISU believes it is important to focus on the light at the end of the tunnel. Science has brought many of the answers to the pandemic, often with universities playing a critical role. And sport will continue to play an integral part in shaping the future. This difficult year has taught the world how to innovate and think differently. Many learnings will persist in the long run.
“This year provided an opportunity to revise and innovate our approach to everything, including inspection visits,” said Secretary General-CEO Eric Saintrond. “We had countless meetings and seminars online, including for the preparation of the FISU World University Games in Chengdu, and future events as well.”
The FISU President too, said there were brighter days ahead.
“I ask you all to continue to be careful, in order to protect your friends, family and colleagues,” said President Oleg Matytsin. “But at the same time, we do now have the chance to start moving past the pandemic. And hopefully, there will be the chance for the best young university athletes from all over the world to compete together in August next year. Along with us, you can be very confident and optimistic about that.”
