Dear friends,
I would like to wish every one of you a productive, insightful and successful start to the new academic year!
Traditionally, it is the start of a new calendar year when people reflect and make new resolutions for the year ahead. However, for millions of students and academic staff around the globe, September also means a fresh start and new aspirations. I would encourage you all – whether you are a student-athlete, a teacher, a coach, or administrator in university sport – to take this opportunity to set targets for what can be achieved through sport this year.
FISU President Oleg Matytsin addresses the crowd during the ceremonial opening of the 30th Summer Universiade Athletes’ Village, much like he welcomes students back to their university campuses this fall!
We have seen over many years the role that sport can play. Sport has the power to change the lives of individuals, to make political breakthroughs, to even change the course of history.
Take a moment to think on how sport can help to improve academic performance and maybe even change your life and the lives of those around you.
It is an exciting question to ask and I look forward to seeing the answers manifest themselves in the coming months. At FISU, the International Day of University Sport is just one opportunity to reach your fellow students through sport. Every year, 20 September is a chance to connect students around the world and reach out to local communities, creating a link focused around sport, physical activity and healthy living.
As I reflect on the past academic year and look ahead to the next, I know that there is much to be excited about.
After the success of the Winter and the Summer Universiades this year, we still have more than 10 FISU World Championships before the end of the 2019/2020 academic year. We will also host the final of the World University League 3×3 Basketball and the very first edition of FISU World Cup – Football.
I look forward to seeing the innovative ways in which you, your university and your National University Sports Federations get involved in sport, representing and promoting the activities that you love so that others might also feel the physical, mental and social benefits that sport provides.
Once again, my best wishes for an excellent year!
Yours in sport,
Oleg Matytsin
FISU President