FISU presented its newest event Lausanne in Motion (LIM) at a press conference on March 26 in Lausanne. The press conference was lead by Mr Eric Saintrond, Secretary General of the International University Sports Federation (FISU), Mr Marc Vuilleumier, representative of the city of Lausanne, responsible for sport and integration; Mrs Cosima Deluermoz, delegate for international sport of the Canton de Vaud; Mr George-André Carrel, President of the Organising Committee LIM and Ms Anne-Maud Jan-Viau, FISU Assistant Special Events.

Mr Saintrond stressed the importance to organise a combined sport, educational and cultural event. The ‘Lausanne in Motion’ festival aims to showcase the values of FISU and university sport to the citizens of Lausanne. He also stressed the fact that the creation of this International University Sport Festival features in the bilateral relations FISU upholds with UNESCO.

Indeed, recently, on 20 March, FISU President Claude-Louis Gallien met with Prof. Hao Ping, the president of the 37th General Conference of UNESCO, an invitation extended by M. Hao Ping himself. The meeting took place at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. In order to safeguard the promotion and development of the international university sport movement, FISU officially presented a request to UNESCO at this meeting to establish an ‘International University Sport Day’. Student-athletes worldwide will be invited to participate in the development of this project and will be involved in its implementation. It will include sports, arts and contests focused on education activities.

According to President Gallien, “the ‘International University Sports Day’ will encourage student-athletes today, even those who will be the leaders of tomorrow, to develop relationships with students from other countries based on integrity, fair play, team spirit and respect for the opponent, universal values that FISU shares with UNESCO." The reaction of UNESCO to this initiative was very positive and the inaugural edition of the International University Sports Festival to be held in Lausanne in September will somehow be the first prototype of the ‘International University Sports Day’.

Mr Vuilleumier stressed the importance of welcoming FISU in Lausanne because it embodies not only a major global sports organization within the ‘Olympic Capital’, but it represents also a link with the university centres UNIL and EPFL. Mrs Deluermoz explained the reasons for gathering all actors involved in sport and education at the University of Lausanne by the creation of the ‘Cluster’ of international sport.

Mr Carrel and Ms Anne Maud Jan-Viau then presented the festival. The inaugural edition will take place at the Place de la Navigation, Lausanne, on 20 September, 2014. Sporting events animated by professional instructors will take place during the day, such as zumba, capoeira, fitness & wellness, martial arts, Latin dances, etc.

At this occasion; FISU will also launch a Talent Show among the students. Students can show their artistic and sporting talents on stage. Three different competitions for students were also launched: Creating a new sport / Science & Technology / Arts & Culture.

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