Sixth International Conference of Ministers and Senior Officials Responsible for Physical Education and Sport (MINEPS) was held in Kazan, Russia between July 13 and 15, 2017. The event gathered representatives from more than 100 countries and 40 organisations.

University sport movement was able to be heard at the event with the President of the International University Sports Federation (FISU) Mr Oleg Matytsin delivering a speech during the meeting’s closing session.



Both the conference and President Matytsin’s address focused on the values that higher education and research have on improving physical education, physical activity and sport outcomes. “Higher education institutions play an important role in promoting and providing opportunities for physical activity and sport on all performance levels, including dedicated programmes for competitive athletes like dual career,” read conference report’s first paragraph.

“FISU’s mission is to work for the health and well being of students and thus to become leaders of tomorrow,” FISU President said during this speech. “FISU is cooperating with main governmental and non-governmental institutions in order to make sport, physical activity and healthy living a big part of the lives of students.”



The meeting opened with speeches of the deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Mr Vitaly Mutko, who was tasked with conveying the message of the Russian President Mr Vladimir Putin and the President of the Republic of Tatarstan Mr Rustam Minnikhanov. Mrs Nada Al Nashif, Assistant General director of Social and Human Resources for UNESCO, led the working sessions on behalf of the UNESCO General Director Irina Bokova.

Delegates approved the Kazan Action Plan at the event, a working document with three main areas of focus: developing a comprehensive vision of inclusive access for all; maximizing the contributions of sport to sustainable development and peace; and protecting the integrity of sport.



For more information, please see www.mineps2017.com and www.fisu.net.