As one of FISU’s Continental University Sports Federations, the European University Sports Association (EUSA) held an electoral General Assembly this weekend in Hungarian capital of Budapest, followed by the EUSA-FISU Strategic Dialogue.
The event started on Friday with the welcome speeches by EUSA President Mr Adam Roczek, on behalf of the host – MEFS Executive Committee member Mr. Zoltan Rakaczki, FISU Acting President Mr Leonz Eder, as well as video addresses by the President of the European Olympic Committees, Mr Spyros Capralos and Head of the Sport Unit of the European Commission Ms Floor van Houdt.
Assembly delegates adopted modifications to the statutes, also allowing proxy representation of member associations who could not attend the event in person due to the special circumstances—also having the opportunity to join online through the hybrid format. The Assembly confirmed San Marino as its new, 47th member association. Also taking into account the newly adopted statutes and proxies, 43 countries were represented at the event.
Reports from the period 2018-2020 were also presented by EUSA President Mr. Adam Roczek, Secretary General Mr. Matjaz Pecovnik and Treasurer Mr. Lorenz Ursprung, who highlighed the sports and educational events for the period, along with finance updates before the outgoing Executive Committee were thanked for their work over the last mandate. Among the outgoing Executive Committee members, the Assembly awarded the title of Honorary Members to Mr. Kemal Tamer from Turkey and Mr. Ceslovas Garbaliauskas from Lithuania, as well as the Order of Merit to Mr Jean-Francois Sautereau from France.
The following new Executive Committee members were voted in and after the constitutive meeting of the newly-elected Executive Committee:
President: Adam Roczek (POL)
1st Vice-President: Haris Pavletic (CRO)
Vice-Presidents: Ivana Ertlova (CZE), Bruno Barracosa (POR), Joerg Forester (GER)
Treasurer: Francis Cirianni (ITA)
Secretary General: Matjaz Pecovnik (SLO)
Student Representative: Nikolli Flobena (ALB)
Members: Agita Abele (LAT), Aitor Canibe (ESP), Andreas Csonka (SUI), Mehmet Gunay (TUR), Dmitry Kiselev (RUS), Ievgeniy Imas (UKR), Zoltan Rakaczki (HUN), Milan Zvan (SLO)
Auditors: Hovhannes Gabrielyan (ARM), Liviu Matac (ROU)
Newly elected Executive Committee
Participants also enjoyed a formal dinner with an entertainment programme, celebrating diversity and inclusion in society with an emphasis on university sport. The attendees were addressed by EUSA President Mr. Adam Roczek, FISU Acting President Mr. Leonz Eder, MEFS President Mr. Lajos Mocsai and Hungarian State Secretary for Sport Ms Tunde Szabo. The event was also used as an opportunity for FISU to present a medal to Hungarian athlete Ms Györgyi Zsivoczky-Farkas, who received a silver medal in heptathlon at the Kazan 2013 Summer Universiade after a disqualification of her competitor.
EUSA-FISU Strategic Dialogue
The EUSA-FISU Strategic Dialogue followed the General Assembly and was focused on the leaders of university sport in Europe, covering two main themes relevant to the field of sport in higher education.
The first panel was titled University Sport and the COVID-19 pandemic: Impact and future perspectives. Moderated by Mr. Lorenz Ursprung, the discussions covered the current situation and looked at examples of good practices. The first two panellists were FISU Acting President, Mr. Leonz Eder, and EUSA President, Mr. Adam Roczek, who reflected on the new reality and shared their experiences of having to postpone and/or cancel international university sports events.
The Vice-President of the Croatian Academic Sport Federation (HASS) Mr. Haris Pavletic, and the President of the Czech University Sports Association (CAUS) Ms Ivana Ertlova shared the experiences of organising the national university sports championships, games, and educational events also in this period.
The second panel looked at the international and European university sports calendar in the current and upcoming year. Moderated by Ms. Anna Edes, panellists reflected on the planned university sport events in and beyond Europe.
FISU Development & NUSF Relations Manager, Mr. Tarmo Jaakson, shared plans for celebrations of the International Day of University Sport (IDUS) in September, the Lucerne 2021 Winter Universiade, the Chengdu 2021 FISU World University Games in the summer of 2022, 2022 FISU World University Championships and World Cups, along with FISU educational events.
EUSA Secretary General Mr. Matjaz Pecovnik recalled the success of the previous EUSA events and the great interest of students, universities and associations for taking part in the European Universities Championships and Games. The calendar for 2022-2024 will bring the next seasons of the European Universities Games and the European Universities Championships, along with the bidding for the events in 2025 (Championships) and 2026 (Games) being open.
The President of the German University Sports Federation (ADH) Mr. Joerg Foerster shared the plans for the 2025 FISU World University Games in Rhine-Ruhr and the big support of student athletes behind the initiative.
The coordinator of the European Universities Games Lodz 2022, Ms. Tatsiana Andruska, presented the concept of the EUSA’s flagship event, which is to be hosted next year in Poland. The local hosts are working with the university and city officials, as well as with other key stakeholders in hosting the much-awaited event for student athletes— celebrating sport and education, also engaging with university and organisation leaders continent-wide.
The EUSA-FISU Strategic Dialogue, as well as the preceding EUSA General Assembly were organised by EUSA, hosted by the Hungarian University Sports Federation (MEFS) in cooperation with the University of Physical Education (TF), and supported by FISU.
More information about the strategic dialogue can be found here.