FISU Volunteer Leaders Academy (FVLA) is organised for the very first time in Kazan, Russia, as a legacy of Kazan 2013 Summer Universiade. The event is hosting 110 participants from 91 countries, and aims to inspire young representatives from university sport to be the “leaders of tomorrow”.

The academy is attended by EUSA Student Commission Chair Ms Anna Edes (representing the European University Sports Association), EUSA Student Commission member Mr Kevin Ronan (representing Ireland) and former EUSA EVS volunteer Ms Anett Fodor (representing Hungary).



The FISU Volunteers Leaders Academy kicked off on July 2, and the program concludes on July 8, 2017. The Universiade Village serves as the accommodation for the representatives from all over the world, while the educational programme takes place in the Volga Region State Academy of Physical Culture, Sport and Tourism (FISU International Education Centre during the Universiade), giving a special atmosphere to the event.



Experts from the International University Sports Federation (FISU), the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), Universiade, European Universities Games and FIFA World Cup Organising Committees, EF Education First, Foundation of Sports and Olympism, Serbian Olympic Committee and JTA Company have gathered to share their experience and knowledge in sport leadership and volunteering with the participating volunteer leaders. Lectures, panel discussions, workshops, networking activities, group discussions and projects are organised throughout the 7 days of the academy, which help the participants to improve their skills and competencies that are essential for the management of the volunteer programmes at sports events.



The academy officially opened on July 3 with a very colourful ceremony, with the welcome speeches given by FISU President Mr Oleg Matytsin, President of Republic of Tatarstan Mr Rustam Minnikhanov, Mayor of Kazan Mr Ilsur Metshin and the Ambassador for the Winter Universiade Krasnoyarsk 2019, Mr Alexei Yagudin. “Annually, over 100 national and international sporting events are staged to the highest standard thanks to our volunteers,” said Mr Minnikhanov. “I dare say, without such proactive and imaginative young people it is impossible to host major international events. But to organise volunteer activities, we need educational programmes.”



Participants had the opportunity during the discussions, lectures and workshops to address questions and recommendations to FISU and other represented sports organisations in youth sport and volunteering, as well as to share their own stories, experiences and projects. EUSA experiences were also shared with the other participants in Kazan. The EUSA Volunteer Programme was presented by Ms Anna Edes, and Ms Ivana Anicic presented the volunteer programme of the European Universities Games Zagreb-Rijeka 2016.



The young volunteer leaders had the privilege to discover the Russian and Tatar culture and traditions through cultural activities and sightseeing excursion in the city of Kazan. Besides that, a guided tour to the world’s Universiade Museum was organised. As the final project of the academy, the participants were challenged to develop a draft programme for the celebration of the International Day of University Sport.



To award the best volunteers, the 10 most active volunteers will be chosen to work at the Taipei 2017 Summer Universiade or attend on a business language course in Cambridge, Boston.

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