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FISU President speaks about sport and education at prestigious UNESCO conference

FISU 17 July 2017

 For the first time in six meetings, the world conference of sports ministers shifted focus from   policy declarations to measurable action. Attendees agreed on specific strategies to strengthen the educational, cultural and social aspects of sport. 

 

KAZAN, RUSSIAN FEDERATION – For the first time in FISU history, leaders from the international university sport movement were invited to take the floor at the Sixth International Conference of Ministers and Senior Officials Responsible for Physical Education and Sport.

FISU President Oleg Matytsin delivered a speech during the meeting’s closing session on Saturday, an event which gathered representatives from more than 100 countries and 40 organisations.

President Matytsin addresses the delegates in Kazan on the symbiotic relationship school and sports have on developing leaders

Both the conference and President Matytsin’s address centered on the value that higher education and research have on improving physical education, physical activity and sport outcomes.

“Higher education institutions play an important role in promoting and providing opportunities for physical activity and sport on all performance levels, including dedicated programmes for competitive athletes like dual career,” read conference report’s first paragraph.

“FISU’s mission is to work for the health and well being of students and thus to become leaders of tomorrow,” President Matytsin said during this speech. “FISU is cooperating with main governmental and non-governmental institutions in order to make sport, physical activity and healthy living a big part of the lives of students.”

 

The meeting opened last Friday with speeches of the deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Vitaly Mutko, who was tasked with conveying the message of the Vladimir Putin, and the President of the Russian Federation and the President of the Republic of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov.

Nada Al Nashif, Assistant General director of Social and Human Resources for UNESCO, led the working sesions on behalf of the UNESCO General Director Irina Bokova. Mrs. Al Nashif put on these session together with the Russian Minister of Sport, Pavel Kolobkov.

 President Matytsin spoke at the MINEPS Conference on Saturday, 15th of July

Delegates approved the Kazan Action Plan at the event, a working document with three main areas of focus: One, developing a comprehensive vision of inclusive access for all; Two, maximizing the contributions of sport to sustainable development and peace; and Three, protecting the integrity of sport.

 

“This is why FISU is implementing Dual Career initiatives, events like the International Day of University Sport endorsed by UNESCO, or contributing to the scientific research on sport,” President Matytsin said. “FISU strongly believes that through sport we can make our youth more responsible citizen and more active leaders in all parts of the civil society. Indeed, Youth and Sport are driving forces of changes and innovations.”

 

President Matytsin presents the Russian Minister of Sports, Pavel Kolobkov, with a plaque after his speech at the UNESCO conference on sport, school and physical education