Prior to the start of the Winter Universiade 2017, the Executive Committee Meeting of the International University Sports Federation (FISU) took place on January 26 and 27 in host city of the Universiade - Almaty, Kazakhstan. The meeting was attended also by the President of the European University Sports Association (EUSA) Mr Adam Roczek.

FISU President Mr Oleg Matytsin welcomed all the participants and presented his report, especially highlighting the important signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and informed them about ongoing discussions also with the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC). President Matytsin also announced the launch of the International Volunteers Academy in Kazan. Referring to the McLaren report, FISU President stressed that FISU has been cooperating with WADA and following its regulations since the creation of the WADA Code and stressed the importance of education and active contribution to anti-doping measures. His report was concluded by focusing on two upcoming Universiades, and thanking FISU staff, EC and other committees for the hard work and their commitment.



Next, FISU Treasurer Mr Bayasgalan Danzandorj presented his report reflecting the financial healthy situation of the organisation. The session ended with the extensive report of the FISU Secretary General Mr Eric Saintrond. Mr Saintrond gave an update on the ongoing construction of the new Headquarters in Lausanne, continued with an overview of the upcoming Universiades and explained the attribution procedure for future events. He mentioned the preparation of uniform guidelines for the national delegations participating at FISU events, introduced development of FISU Webgames and E-Sports World University League and ended his report with information regarding the FISU Gala and FISU Awards.



The afternoon session of the first day started with the internal report chaired by Mr Marian Dymalski, regarding the preparations of the 28th Winter Universiade in Almaty, which was followed by the progress report of the Organising Committee by General Director Mr Nail Nurov and EC member and Kazakh NUSF President Mr Kayrat Zakiryanov.



Mr Leonz Eder as the Chair of the Development Committee presented a report on new memberships requests, continental federations (CUSF) and individual national university sports federations (NUSF). FISU-CUSF Strategic Dialogues have been introduced, with focus on promoting the values of FISU, enhancing brand FISU while improving the administrative capabilities of individual organisations. At the end of the report, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between FISU, FISU Oceania and AUSF.



The session of the first day ended with the report of the Media & Communication Committee. Mrs Verena Burk, Chair of the CMC, informed the EC about the revamped website and the Young Reporters’ Programme at the 2017 Summer Universiade while COO Mr Dejan Susovic gave an update on the broadcasting for the WU in Almaty. Besides the livestreaming on the FISU website, the Games will be broadcast on Eurosport, Eurosport Asian-Pacific platform, CCTV China, MatchTV, and on local national TV stations Kazakhstan, Kazsport and Khabar.



The second day of the meeting started with the report of the Education Committee, chaired by Mrs Verena Burk. Together with Director of Education Mr Kole Gjeloshaj, they informed on the progress made regarding the FISU World Conference on Innovation-Education-Sport during the Winter Universiade in Almaty and the FISU World Conference on Student Development through sport in Taipei City during the 2017 Summer Universiade. In Taipei, other educational programmes will be organized as well, such as youth leadership seminars, organised by the Student Committee and leadership seminars, organized by the Education Committee, the Medical Committee and the Media & Communication Committee. An update was given as well about the preparations of the 2018 FISU Forum in Krasnoyarsk, the FISU World Conference on Innovation – Education – Sport 2019 in Krasnoyarsk during the 2019 WU and the current educational projects such as the FISU-WADA Project and the International Day of University Sport 2017. Mr Gjeloshaj also presented co-operations and partnerships intentions with other organisations. The presentation ended with an update on the 2017 Scholarship Programmes.



Student Committee Chair Mrs Hilkka Poyhonen gave an update of its activities regarding international co-operation with youth organisations and presented Student and Youth Leadership Seminars that will be staged during the Universiade in Taipei City as well as supporting student representation in National University Sports Federations. Next the floor was given to the Gender Equality Committee, chaired by Mrs Rosaura Mendez. Together with Vice-Chair Mrs Penninah Kabenge they reported on the 5th FISU Gender Equality Sport Award, the 4th FISU Gender Equality Round Table, the GEC Seminar at the 2017 Summer Universiade and the Gender Equality at the Continental Seminars.



Mrs Lilia Barieva gave a general update of the FISU Global Strategy Development, followed by the presentations of the progress reports of the different Working Groups; on Sport and Sport Organisations Relations by Mr Dymalski and Mr Parente; NUSFs, CUSFs and Universities by Mr Eder; Education and Cultural Events and Communication and Marketing by Mrs Burk; Structure and Human Resources by Mr Saintrond and Finances and Commercial Development  by Mr Danzandorj.



World University Championships were in focus next, presenting an overview of the 2016 events and an update regarding the 2018 WUCs. 4.864 athletes (2.848 men & 2.016 women) and 1.526 officials (1.241 men & 285 women) participated at the 2016 WUCs. Regarding the 2018 events, 80% of the dates are already approved, and preparations for 2020 WUCs are underway, launching also the the Mind Sport and Combat Sports clusters.



Last, but not least, the Organising Committees of the future Universiades presented their progress report. They were preceded by the internal reports by the FISU Supervision Committees. The reports focused on the 2017 Summer Universiade in Taipei City, 2019 Winter Universiade in Krasnoyarsk, 2019 Summer Universiade in Naples and 2021 Winter Universiade in Lucerne.

The next FISU Executive Committee meeting is scheduled on August 15 and 16, 2017, prior to the 29th Summer Universiade in Taipei City. For more information, please see www.fisu.net.