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FISU Declares Second International Day of University Sport A Great Success

FISU 22 September 2017

Campus and community events across five continents focused on sport, physical activity and healthy living 

 

 

Lausanne, 21 September: Following 24 hours packed with exciting and engaging activities around the world, FISU President Oleg Matytsin declared the second International Day of University Sport “a great success.”

 

 

Launched in 2016 and officially proclaimed by UNESCO, the International Day of University Sport on 20 September does more than drive general awareness of FISU’s work. It also creates links between universities and their local communities, focused around sport, physical activity and healthy living.

 

Students athletes and future leaders from all corners of the globe celebrated the International Day of University Sport 

 

 

In Tartu, the International Day of University Sport combined with activities of the European Week of Sport, thanks to Estonia’s current position as incumbent in the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union. In Papua New Guinea, five events brought campuses and communities together. FISU’s broadcast partner, Eurosport, covered the day.

 

 

“FISU is determined to ensure that university sport has a positive impact both on and off the campus. This is the best way FISU can help all young people lead healthier lives,” said FISU President Oleg Matytsin. “When FISU was created, students had far more physically active lives than they do now. Childhood obesity simply did not exist. But now, there are many countries where one in five children are either overweight or obese. At the same time, in some countries, only half of children play team sports. These are challenges for all of us working with young people and sport.”

 

 The next Winter Universiade will be held in Krasnoyarsk, Russia. Situated in the heart of Siberia, the slogan for this major championship is “Welcome to Real Winter.”

 

Other activities around the world also celebrated the success of student athletes and the importance of sport on campus. In China, the International Day of University Sport was celebrated during the National Student Games.

 

In France, Sports Minister Laura Flessel invited French medallists from the recent Taipei 2017 Summer Universiade to her office, in order to congratulate them personally. “We will unblock the way for every student who wants to practise physical activity,” said Flessel. “We should not be satisfied with a number of 150,000 for enrolled student athletes [in France].”

 

The skills learned in competition and in training are real: today’s stars are set up well to distinguish themselves as tomorrow’s leaders