We regret to report about the passing of Mr Yuri Parfenov, one of the founding fathers of the World University Sport Movement. Born in 1924, Mr Parfenov dedicated his life to university sport. In 1957, he became the first president of "Buruvestnik", the Society of University Sports of the Soviet Union, and initiated the participation of Soviet student-athletes in international competitions.

He also played a leading role in the reunification of international university sport and participated with other nations of the Eastern block in the first University Games in Turin in 1959. Later that year he was elected Vice-President of the International University Sports Federation (FISU). He was also the Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the 1973 Summer Universiade in Moscow. 

Mr Parfenov devoted a big part of his life to the development of university sports and his extraordinary professional skills remain an example for future generations. EUSA mourns the loss of Mr Parfenov and our deepest condolences go to the family and close ones, as well as to the colleagues in the Russian Students Sport Union (RSSU). May he rest in peace.