BRATISLAVA, Slovakia – The first steering meeting of the recently elected FISU Executive Committee was held in the Slovak capital on 5 December, to review the year 2019 including the General Assembly and to prepare future plans of the International University Sports Federation.
The FISU Steering Committee in BratislavaPresent at the FISU Steering Committee were FISU President Oleg Matytsin, First Vice-President Leonz Eder, the four Vice-Presidents Luciano Cabral, Marian Dymalski, Penninah Kabenge and Shen Zhen, as well as FISU Treasurer Bayasgalan Danzandorj, Senior EC Member Verena Burk and Secretary General-CEO Eric Saintrond.
“It was great to welcome Penninah Kabenge, FISU’s first female Vice President to her first Steering Committee,” said Eric Saintrond. “It was a very productive meeting, with plans for the future and also the proposition of names for the chairpersons of various FISU Committees. We discussed the outcome of the 2019 General Assembly and the most recent FISU sporting achievement, the first edition of the FISU University World Cup – Football in Jinjiang.”
As before, the meeting was dedicated to yearly results and the future plans of FISU, including the next few cycles of the Summer and Winter Universiades as well as World University Championships and Cups.
FISU President Oleg Matytsin at SAUS GalaThe Steering Committee meeting took place on the sidelines of the Slovak University Sports Association (SAUŠ) centenary celebrations. The beginnings of SAUŠ can be traced back to June 1919, and a grand Gala was held in Bratislava to mark the 100-year milestone. The FISU leadership was in attendance.
On this occasion, the FISU Executive Committee decided to bestow FISU’s highest award, the ‘Jean Petitjean Medal’ upon the Slovak University Sports Association (SAUŠ), which has made an important contribution to international university sports during its long history. The Slovak Federation has organised three Winter Universiades and several World University Championships.
“It goes without saying that FISU is very grateful to the President of Slovak University Sports Association, Julius Dubovsky,” said FISU President Oleg Matytin. “Also, to the Slovak Olympic and Sports Committee and to the government and leadership of Slovakia.”
“With such proactive member countries as Slovakia, FISU can look ahead with confidence,” he added.
Dusan Hamar receiving the Primo Nebiolo medalThe FISU ‘Primo Nebiolo Medal’ was also awarded to Dr Dusan Hamar, Chair of FISU Medical Committee for his commitment, dedication and long years of service to the university sports movement.
“What was really nice to see was that SAUŠ felicitated many of their former athletes and Universiade medallists from down the years,” said FISU Winter Universiade Director Milan Augustin, who hails from Slovakia.
“There were some awardees who were in their eighties and nineties and it was wonderful to see them receive such recognition.”
Winter Universiade Director Milan Augustin presents an award at the SAUS GalaMilan Augustin presented the SAUŠ Gala award to the Slovak shooting team that participated at the Napoli 2019 Summer Universiade, among other awards.
The Steering Committee meeting concluded with discussions on the next FISU Forum, the FISU Healthy Campus project, implementation of the federation’s new branding strategy and the calendar of working meetings in 2020.