Before the 2017 Summer Universiade, the International University Sports Federation (FISU) hosted their 35th General Assembly on August 17 and 18 in Taipei City on the island of Taiwan, Chinese Taipei.

The event started with the FISU President Mr Oleg Matytsin unveiling FISU Global Strategy; 10-year plan focusing on eight key areas: delivering major sporting events, spreading education through sport, enhancing culture, building dual career programmes, cooperating with international organisations, developing FISU’s global network, promoting sport through direct relationships with universities, and further improving financial and human resources.



The Assembly, comprising of delegates from almost 80 countries, among them 35 from Europe, were given the reports of the organisation, events and projects by the FISU President Mr Matytsin and Secretary General Mr Eric Saintrond.



Assembly members confirmed the update of terms and age limits for Executive Committee Members and the accepted university sport federations from Cape Verde, Kosovo, the Marshall Islands, and Sao Tome and Principe as new FISU members.



Apart from the presentations by the next Universiade hosts - Taipei SU2017, Krasnoyarsk WU2019, Naples SU2019 and Lucerne WU 2021, a report on World University Championships and Leagues was done as well. New sports partnerships were signed and new university football together for the FISU University Football World Cup.



Jean Petitjean medallions, FISU’s highest honours were awarded during the event. This lifetime achievement award to those who have helped move the university sports to great heights, was given to Mr Claude Louis Gallien (FRA), Mr Xinsheng Zhang (CHN), Mr Stefan Bergh (SWE), Mrs Alison Odell (GBR) and Mr Hassan Chick (ALG). Mr Bergh and Mrs Odell have been also actively involved in the European University Sports Association (EUSA) from its beginning in 1999.



FISU also nourishes new talents, among others supporting five future sports leaders who are working the duration of the Universiade for the FISU knowledge management team, earning their place on the FISU team through their performance at this year's FISU Volunteer Leaders Academy in Kazan, Russia.



EUSA is the continental associate member of FISU for Europe, and was represented at the event by its President Mr Adam Roczek and Secretary General Mr Matjaz Pecovnik.

The Taipei 2017 Summer Universiade will begin on 19 August, celebrating sport education and culture with more than 7,700 students from 150 countries competing.

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