As part of our ongoing series of interviews with Member Federations, FISU Student Ambassadors Mariano Orlando and Aldana Mariana recently met FeDUA President Emiliano Ojea to find out what the Argentinian University Sport Federation has planned for the years ahead. Excerpts:
FISU: What are FeDUA’s objectives and plans in the medium and long term; for 2019 and over the next five to ten years?
Ojea: For 2019, we hope to continue on the path of making the university sports movement grow. We have done a lot in our six years (since FeDUA was created) and we have just recently returned from Krasnoyarsk 2019 Winter Universiade. I hope we will travel with a big, competitive delegation to Napoli for the 2019 Summer Universiade. Nationally, we want to hold more competitions to ensure match practice for all the students.
I participated in FISU’s working group for FISU’s Global Strategy 2027 and was encouraged by FISU President Oleg Matytsin to do the same at a national level. We have thus introduced a ‘Argentinean University Sports 2030’ strategic plan that involves rectors, teachers, students, athletes, professionals, businessmen, journalists and authorities from the National Olympic Committee, as well as representatives from FISU America. We believe this pluralistic view will pave the best way forward for Argentinean sports and society.
FISU: FeDUA had an important role in being involved at the Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games 2018. What was the result?
Ojea: We created and hosted the ‘University Sports House’ at the Youth Olympics and it was a huge success. It reiterated the link between the university sports movement and the Olympic movement. It was the best possible promotion with thousands of young athletes, where we showed them that they can study and compete at the same time sports, that dual career is possible. It was important that FISU and FeDUA were seen as a strong presence among the International Olympic Committee leaders and International Federations.
What is FeDUA’s next big event?
Ojea: In 2019 we will organize ‘Futsal FISU America Cup’ in the Misiones province. Then, in 2020 we will host the FISU World University Rugby Sevens Championship in La Plata. Our dream is to organise the Summer Universiade one day.
What is the expected Argentinean participation in the next Summer Universiade? What sports are our strongest?
Ojea: In Argentina, there is not enough development of winter sports at the university level, and that is something we really want to improve. Our delegations to both Almaty 2017 and Krasnoyarsk 2019 were small. On the Summer Universiade (Napoli 2019) side though, we believe we will have a delegation of about 260 persons. The highest expectations will be from the men’s Volleyball and Basketball teams, and also from Taekwondo. I think we can also spring a surprise in a few other sports.