He is from Hungary, she is from Korea. They have in common a love for winter sports, a great experience in volunteering and they are both successful FISU Springboard Programme mentees since they are on their way to work for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
The two FISU Student Ambassadors reflect on their paths so far and speak of all the doors they managed to open thanks to the connections they built and the skills they learnt.
Bruno Negyeliczky, FISU Student Ambassador for the Netherlands 2024/25 and for Hungary 2025/26.
“As a student-athlete in alpine skiing, I had the opportunity to compete at the Torino 2025 FISU World University Games. In addition, I completed my first curricular internship as a Venue Protocol Liaison in Essen during the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU Summer Games, where I supported and oversaw the protocol operations of six competition venues as well as trained and managed volunteers.
During the 2024/25 academic year, while representing the Netherlands (the country where I study), I collaborated with the Dutch National University Sports Federation (SSN) to enhance their social media presence through student-athlete-focused Instagram campaigns centred on the 2025 FISU Games.
This academic year (2025/26), I have the privilege of representing my home country, Hungary, as a FISU Student Ambassador. I hope to contribute to the development of our university sport operations and support major national and international events in every possible way.
In addition, I have the privilege to take part in the FISU Springboard Mentorship Programme, which has been one of the most enriching experiences of my journey so far. Being selected as a mentee and having such a great mentor from FISU – Bertrand Fincoeur, FISU Education & Development Senior Manager – has allowed me to learn from a true professional with loads of experience, exchange views and advice, and even share networks when needed. It is a genuine two-way learning process that continues to inspire me to grow both personally and professionally.
Proactive and open-minded
Through my FISU journey so far, I have developed a wide range of skills, including volunteer and event management, leadership, public speaking, social media communication, intercultural teamwork, and inclusivity. I also gained valuable experience in adapting to diverse work environments and coordinating with multiple stakeholders across different venues and cultural contexts.
FISU has taught me to be proactive and open-minded, to never wait for opportunities, but to create them myself. It reinforced the importance of kindness, professionalism, and giving 100% effort in every situation. The experience also showed me how much growth comes from stepping outside of my comfort zone, embracing challenges, and approaching every task with passion and purpose.
Thanks to my work at Rhine-Ruhr and the connections I built there — as well as throughout my first term as an FSA — I was fortunate to secure a position with the Organising Committee of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, where I currently work once again in Venue Protocol. This opportunity has been a direct continuation of the skills, network, and values I gained through my FISU experience.
My most challenging yet rewarding experience at Rhine-Ruhr 2025 was managing several competition venues simultaneously with limited prior experience. Balancing these responsibilities pushed me to become more organised, decisive, and solution-oriented. Another challenge was handling the variability in volunteer availability and expectations at each venue, which taught me adaptability, communication, and leadership under pressure. These experiences ultimately helped me grow both personally and professionally.
Since childhood, I have dreamed of staying involved in sport beyond my athletic career. My long-term goal is to become a leading figure in the global Olympic Movement by contributing to the development and promotion of sport worldwide. Personally, I would love to continue making Hungary and Budapest a home for many major international sporting events and, one day, to help bring both the FISU Games (again) and the Olympic Games for the first time to my home country.
We recently had the privilege to spend an inspiring day at the FISU Headquarters in Lausanne, where we were warmly welcomed by the entire team. The visit offered a great insight into FISU’s culture and daily operations, and seeing the historical archives — filled with documents and artifacts from past Games — was one of the most memorable parts of the experience. It was also special for me to see my mentor’s desk in person and even sit in his chair for a fun photo, while he was still at the FISU Football World Cup, in China!”
Gyu Rhee Kelly Kim, FISU Student Ambassador for the Republic of Korea 2023/24
“As a FISU Student Ambassador, I promoted university sport values through campaigns such as the International Day of University Sport (IDUS) and helped students explore careers in physical education and sport. Also participating in Zagreb 2024 FISU World Forum and Springboard programme. Later, working as part of the Information Services team for Rhine-Ruhr 2025 Organising Committee, gaining more experience in organising major international sporting events.
Through my time as student ambassador, I developed strong and intercultural communication, and event management skills. I learned how to engage diverse audiences, lead initiatives independently, and represent FISU values with professionalism. These skills became essential when working within international organising committees, where teamwork and adaptability is one of the most important factors.
FISU helped me in understanding that sport is not only competition but also education, culture, and inclusion. My experience as an ambassador gave me confidence to work in multicultural environments and communicate across departments, which helped me successfully complete roles in both the Gangwon 2024 Youth Olympics and Milano Cortina 2026.
One of the most rewarding experiences at Rhine-Ruhr 2025 was collaborating with colleagues from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds to operate the Games. Seeing with our own eyes our efforts come together was truly fulfilling. The most challenging aspect was adapting to the dynamic work environment while maintaining accuracy and efficiency under tight deadlines. However with teamwork and the supportive environment of the whole Organising Committee definitely did relieve some pressure.
Like Bruno, I took advantage of a trip to Lausanne, Switzerland to visit FISU’s Headquarters. It was a meaningful occasion to reconnect with the FISU team and express my gratitude to the organisation that played a crucial role in shaping my professional journey in international sport management.
In the future, I plan to continue developing my expertise in coordinating projects within international sport organisations and major multi-sport events, while further advancing the values of integrity, inclusion, and education through sport.”
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