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FISU Volunteer Leaders Academy celebrates future of sport

FISU 9 July 2017

Day seven of the Academy focused on individual contributions to the event’s successful debut

 

KAZAN, RUSSIA – FISU President Oleg Matytsin reflected on the importance of the student movement as the inaugural Volunteer Leaders Academy concluded in Kazan.

 

 As part of the closing ceremony which was held in Kazan City Hall, President Matytsin addressed the 110 delegates, attributing the students’ individual contributions as a primary reason for the Academy’s success.

 

President Matytsin addresses a delegation of young leaders one week earlier at a FISU Academy event in Kazan, Russia (ANO Directorate for Sports and Social Projects image) 

“This project is so close to me. I feel it’s so important for the future of these young leaders and for the future of FISU”, he said. “Your energy, your emotion, your passion made this the success that it is. So thank you.”

 

Throughout the week, participants took part in lectures and workshops led by world-renowned experts from a broad range of subject areas, including anti-doping and the management of global events. Alongside these study sessions delegates were also set a group project task, which they presented to a panel that included FISU President Oleg Matytsin, sports officials and industry experts. Their task was centred on how to develop the university sport movement through the International Day of University Sport (IDUS), a FISU initiative that has been endorsed by UNESCO.

The 110-strong Academy delegation poses for a photo at the Kazan City Hall after the awards ceremony As part of the closing ceremony five project winners were awarded internships at the Taipei 2017 Summer Universiade, and another five secured a place in a week-long business immersion course at the EF Executive Language Institute in Cambridge (Boston), Massachusetts. The ideas will help to shape the future of IDUS, which is celebrated annually on September 20.

 

 Timothy Derry, a student from the University of Trinidad and Tobago, scored the highest number of points in total, and said that the examples set by guest speakers were a real motivation for all in attendance.

 

President Matytsin (centre) poses with the 10 Academy winners. Timothy Derry (fourth from right) was the highest-scoring point getter during the weeklong competition “The highlight was meeting the FISU President and other high-level sporting officials”, he said. “What I will remember was how most of them got their start by volunteering. From here they went on to where they are today. It’s encouraging and inspiring.”

 On his internship in Taipei, Derry added: “I actually have no idea what it’s going to be like working at an event the size of the Summer Universiade, but I am eagerly looking forward to the opportunity.  Whatever it takes, I am willing to do it.”

 

Delegates applaud Academy colleagues who earned internships at the Taipei Summer Universiade 2017 and immersive English language courses (ANO Directorate for Sports and Social Projects)

The FISU Volunteer Leaders Academy was set up as part of the legacy from the 2013 Summer Universiade in Kazan. Over 19,000 volunteers will play a role in Taipei next month and FISU is committed to the education and development of each volunteer, in order to help shape the leaders of tomorrow.

 

 Hosted by the Volga State Academy of Sport and Tourism, the inaugural FISU Volunteer Leaders Academy took place in Kazan from 2 – 8 July.