Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 FISU Volunteer Leaders Academy (FVLA), initially planned to take place in Kazan, Russia at the start of June, is now being carried out online, with the first part successfully taking place on June 22 and 23.

During the initial session, an introduction to the International University Sports Federation (FISU), Student Ambassadors Programme and Healthy Campus was given. The welcome was given by the FISU President Mr Oleg Matytsin who opened the 2020 edition of FVLA. The session also included a quiz on university sport and working meetings in small groups.

Participants of the event are university students active in the field of sport, and were nominated by the national and continental university sports bodies from all over the world. During the FVLA, the emerging sports management leaders receive an intense programme that includes lectures, roundtable discussions and networking opportunities to develop their knowledge and competence in specific topics related to sport events. The overall aim is to create a volunteering community around the world that can share good practices in sports events organisation.



European University Sports Association (EUSA) nominated Mr Tobiasz Nowacki, a member of the EUSA Student Commission, to represent the association at FVLA. Mr Nowacki was a participant also last year, and this year he has been selected as a team leader.

"I'm very happy because I can work with groups of students from all around the world. Once again that was a very good experience for me and I'm very happy I can work with team leaders and organisers from FISU. I cannot wait for September," said Mr Nowacki after the first part of the FVLA.

The second part of the academy will be realised as a 3-day course in the beginning of September.