Today, on September 20, 2016, we are celebrating all around the world the International Day of University Sport #idus2016 for the first time.

The International University Sports Federation (FISU) and United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organisation (UNESCO) are the main coordinators and promotors of this special day. We are sharing statements by Mr Oleg Matytsin, FISU President and Mrs Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director-General below.



Today for the first time we celebrate the International Day of University Sport (IDUS). Last year it was proclaimed by UNESCO to raise public awareness about the necessity of practicing sports at universities. This is a very special moment for us at FISU, the International University Sports Federation. For more than 60 years we have been promoting the values and benefits of university sports around the world. Our Universiades are now the second-large world multi-sport events after the Olympics. Every two years thousands of student-athletes compete at the Summer and Winter Universiades. On even years we organise the World University Championships in many different countries on many different sports. We also host educational forums and conferences to exchange ideas on how to improve university sports.

However, there is still need to do more. And today I ask you to join us in our efforts. We live in a world of a wonderful new IT technology. In this environment of smartphones, social networks, video games one can easily forget that a healthy lifestyle is an essential part of our well-being. And it’s important to form the habit to live your life in a healthy way right from the student bench. University education is a key to success in the modern world. Let’s ensure that sport is an inherent part of it!    What is more, university sport indeed is one of the best ways to shape leadership skills, to teach the values of fair play, teamwork, respect for your opponent, respect for a different culture. Today I would like to encourage you to think what we can do together to promote university sports, how to use every opportunity to practice sports and how to create conditions for that.

Of course, the academic year starts at a different time around the world, so in the following days many countries will celebrate the first International Day of University Sports by organising festivals and events, supported by ministries of sports and higher education, as well as the Olympic movement. And I invite you to join our FISU events!

http://www.fisu.net/en/NEWS-3133.html?mbID=7068



University sport has a very special place in the sporting world as a vector of human, social and civic values, fully integrated into the education of today’s and tomorrow’s citizens.

By putting sport at the heart of dialogue between teachers and students, this first International Day of University Sport, celebrated by UNESCO and the International University Sports Federation, aims to promote these values among young adults and, through them, to society as a whole.

Dialogue, self-respect and respect for others, fair play and pursuit of excellence are all framing principles of student training. Education and sport need to be at the core of our societies, and this Day provides a forum to highlight the social role of universities and their curricula by making sport available to all and encouraging people to exercise regularly.

Celebration of this International Day also provides an opportunity for UNESCO to reaffirm its commitment to individual and collective development through sport and education, as stated in the International Charter of Physical Education, Physical Activity and Sport and the International Convention against Doping in Sport.

In this spirit, UNESCO is proud to support the International University Sports Federation and work together towards upholding a more peaceful and fair sporting and social environment.

http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/events/prizes-and-celebrations/celebrations/international-days/international-day-of-university-sport/



European University Sports Association (EUSA) joined the celebrations of the International Day of University Sport with a special hike in Ljubljana and joining other local activities - see our special newsreport for details.