On June 10, 2017, the 25th General Assembly of the European Non-Governmental Sports Organisation (ENGSO) has been organised in Paris, France. The event brought together 20 ENGSO Members, as well as several partner organisations, having a chance to overview and contribute to ENGSO’s work and activities. ENGSO Youth General Assembly also took place at the same time.

European University Sports Association (EUSA) was represented at both events.


 
The Assembly, which showed support for the Paris 2024 bid for the Summer Olympics, started with welcome address by ENGSO President Mr Carlos Cardoso. Introductions and welcome speeches were given also by representatives of partner organisations. On behalf of EUSA, its Communications and Projects Manager Mr Andrej Pisl addressed the participants, thanking ENGSO and the hosts, and stressing the good cooperation between the organisations.



ENGSO General Assembly then first heard the reports, approved the budget and activities for 2016 as well as the action plan 2017-2018 and economic plan for 2017. The Assembly also voted on the accession of the full and associated members. The National Olympic Committee of Kosovo, the Finnish Olympic Committee, replacing Finnish Sports Confederation, which merged to the Olympic Committee, and the Hungarian National Competitive Sport Federation, successor of the non-Olympic branch of the Hungarian Olympic Committee, have become full members of ENGSO. Bulgarian Sports Federation for Children Deprived of Parental Care, Catalan Union of Sports Federations (UFEC) and the Belgian EU Sport Link were approved as Associated members.



At the 25th General Assembly, elections have also taken place, as half of the board is elected every two years for a four-year mandate. The General Assembly elected Secretary General of the Lithuanian Union of Sports Federations Ms Agne Vanagiene as ENGSO Vice-President and Secretary General of the Swedish Sports Confederation Mr Stefan Bergh as ENGSO Secretary General. The three new Executive Committee Members are: Member of the Directors Board at the Danish Olympic Committee and Sports Confederation Ms Lotte Buchert, Head of International Affairs at the Latvian Sports Federations Council Ms Ilva Ciemite and Secretary General of the Albanian National Olympic Committee Mr Stavri Bello.



EUSA Secretary General congratulated Mr Bergh for his election. Mr Bergh is no stranger to university sport, being a former President of the Swedish University Sports Federation (SAIF), former Vice-President of the International University Sports Federation (FISU), and always a strong supporter of EUSA.



ENGSO Youth General Assembly was also held at the same time, presenting the outcomes of the past work of the board, and electing a new board for the next 2-year mandate. The outgoing board, chaired by Mr Paolo Adami, was able to showcase an impressive portfolio of initiatives and projects, out of which the recent staging of the European Youth Sport Forum in partnership with the European Commission and Sport Malta probably stands out the most. Mr Adami thanked the members for their active participation, as well as other participants and partners, including EUSA, for their contributions and cooperation.



In the 2017-2019 mandate, ENGSO Youth will be lead by Mr Michael Leyendecker as the new Chair. Upon election, Mr Leyendecker thanked the members for entrusting him with this role and congratulated also Ms Nevena Vukasinovic (SRB), former Secretary General, for being elected in the position of the Vice-Chair, as well as other elected members: Ms Filipa Godinho (POR), Ms Gerda Katschinka (AUT), Ms Ugne Chmeliauskaite (LTU), Ms Fredrika Lindstrom (SWE), Mr Yoann Soirot (FRA) and Mr Bence Garamvolgyi (HUN).



EUSA Communications and Projects Manager, who is also the secretary of the EUSA Student Commission, congratulated Mr Leyendecker and the new board for their election, and expressed interest to continuing the cooperation.



For more information, please see www.engso.eu and www.youth-sport.net.