The 34th General Assembly of the International University Sports Federation (FISU) was held on the Campus of the University of Lausanne on November 7 and 8, 2015. The General Assembly was especially important as it was an electoral one, setting a new board to lead FISU for the next four-year period.

The event started with the welcome by FISU President Mr Claude-Louis Gallien and Mr Benoit Frund, Vice-Rector of the hosting university. 125 national member associations were present at the event, as well as all associated members. The European University Sports Association (EUSA) was represented by its President Mr Adam Roczek and Secretary General Mr Matjaz Pecovnik.



The participants were also addressed by the President of the International Olympic Committee Mr Thomas Bach. In his speech Mr Bach reflected on his experiences as a student-athlete participating as a fencer at the Summer Universiades in Moscow (1973) and Mexico (1979), celebrating the open atmosphere, bonding with athletes from around the world.



The first day of the Assembly was dedicated to different reports, covering the period 2013-2015. FISU President Mr Gallien took the floor to present the reports, focusing on the highlights and achievements of the past Universiades, World University Championships and other projects, reflecting also the values of university sport, as well as its challenges and threats.



FISU Treasurer Mr Bayasgalan Danzandorj, Internal Auditor Mr Adrian Gagea and external auditors from KPMG presented their reports explaining the financial reports, budgets and outlooks. Secretary General Mr Eric Saintrond focused his report on the relation to worldwide media and TV coverage and legacy effects of the host cities and universities after the major FISU events. He also stressed the collaboration with the international sports federations, with already 42 conventions signed.



The Membership also voted on amended statutes and internal regulations, admission of three new Member Associations - Aruba, Afghanistan and Gambia. Organisers of the past 2015 Summer (Gwangju) and Winter (Granada/Strbske Pleso/Osrblie) Universiades presented their final report and the hosts of the future ones presented their events - Taipei City (2017 SU), Almaty (2017 WU) and Krasnoyarsk (2019 WU). The first day of the Assembly ended with the presentation of the upcoming Championship year with 34 World University Championships in 25 countries in 2016.



Highlight of the Assembly were the elections of the Executive Committee for the period 2015-2019, which were held on the second day of the Assembly. Mr Oleg Matytsin, former 1st Vice-President of FISU, was elected the new President.



Mr Matytsin has been involved in development of university sport for over 15 years. He has an academic background in physical education and administration with a Phd in pedagogical sciences, is the current President of the Russian Students Sport Union (RSSU) and was a former rector of the State University of Physical Culture, Sport and Tourism.



FISU Executive Committee 2015-2019
President: Oleg Matytsin (RUS)
1st Vice-President: Leonz Eder (SUI)
Vice-Presidents: Liguo Yang (CHN), Luciano Cabral (BRA), Marian Dymalski (POL), Leopold Senghor (SEN)
Treasurer: Bayasgalan Danzandorj (MGL)
1st Assessor: Verena Burk (GER)
Assessors: Byong Jin (KOR), Tai-Cheng Chen (TPE), Kairis Ulp (EST), Fernando Parente (POR), Hisato Igarashi (JPN), Rosaura Mendez (CRC), Omar Al-Hai (UAE), Kemal Tamer (TUR), Penninah Kabenge (UGA), Kenny Chow (HKG), Kairat Zakiryanov (KAZ), Anthony Davis (JAM), Malumbete Ralethe (RSA), Coleen Dufresne (CAN), Hilkka Laitinen (FIN)



European University Sports Association would like to congratulate the newly elected members, and is proud of the fact that four of them are currently serving their mandate also in the EUSA Executive Committee - Mr Matytsin and Mr Eder as Vice-Presidents, and Mr Parente and Mr Tamer as EC members.

For more information, please see www.fisu.net.