The President of the International University Sports Federation (FISU), Leonz Eder travelled to Kazan and St. Petersburg for meetings and visits.
FISU President’s four-day visit provided an opportunity to review the legacy of the 2013 Summer Universiade in Kazan, explore the potential of Russian universities and sports infrastructure, and establish new perspectives for cooperation between FISU, the Russian Student Sports Union and the university sports community.
“My visit in Kazan and St. Petersburg demonstrates the importance of university sports as a platform for international dialogue, educational and cultural exchange, the development of student leadership and the promotion of friendship among young people from different countries,” Leonz Eder said. “It reaffirmes the shared commitment to advancing university sports, strengthening international partnerships and placing students at the centre of the global university sports movement.”
Kazan: University Sports Legacy and New Opportunities
Besides visiting several sports facilities, including venues built or renovated for the 2013 Universiade and subsequently transferred to local universities, Leonz Eder also attended the opening ceremonies of competitions within the UniverLiga ecosystem. These included the Republic-wide student rugby sevens competitions and a match of the Super League of the National Student Football League.
The programme also included visits to the Kazan Olympic Reserve School, the Palace of Water Sports, the sports shooting range Sviyaga, Ak Bars Arena, Volga Region State University of Physical Education, Sport and Tourism, and its Burevestnik sports complex. The delegation also explored the facilities and development opportunities of Innopolis and the Sviyaga Hills resort.
During the visit, Leonz Eder and Sergey Kryukov held a meeting with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan, Aleksey Pesoshin, and met with representatives of universities and the student sports community.
An important milestone was the presentation of the FISU Healthy Campus certificates to Kazan Federal University and Almetyevsk State Technological University “Petroleum Higher School”, recognising the high standards in providing a healthy, safe and supportive environment for students.
The award ceremony was held at the Volga Region State University of Physical Culture, Sport and Tourism, platinum certified University. During the days of the visit, two more Universities of Russia joined the FISU Healthy Campus program: St. Petersburg State University of Industrial Technologies and Design and Tula state university.
St. Petersburg: strategic dialogue and student sports development
In St. Petersburg, Leonz Eder visited the Lesgaft National State University of Physical Education, Sport and Health and St. Petersburg State University of Industrial Technologies and Design, as well as several of the city’s major landmarks.
As part of the UniverLiga program, he attended a women’s basketball match between St. Petersburg State University of Industrial Technologies and Design and ITMO University. Another highlight was the ‘friendly Volleyball Match’, which brought together Eder, Kryukov, students from St. Petersburg universities, university representatives and leaders of student sports leagues.
Foresight Session: Putting Students at the Centre of the Sports Ecosystem
A key event of the St. Petersburg visit was the foresight session entitled “A Vision for Cooperation between FISU, the RSSU, Universities and Student Sports Leagues: Putting Students at the Centre of the Ecosystem”.
During his four-day visit, FISU President was accompanied by a delegation of the Russian Student Sports Union (RSSU), headed by its Chairman, Sergey Kryukov, who also serves as Director of the Russian International Olympic University.
News based on information from the Russian Student Sports Union.