FISU EC Meeting in Shenzhen - Day 1

Shenzhen – Today, May 14th, the FISU Executive Committee started its two-day board meeting in Shenzhen, host city of the 26th Summer Universiade in 2011. Prior to the meeting chaired by FISU President George E. Killian, the FISU Assessors were officially welcomed by Mr. Jie Tang, Vice-Mayor of Shenzhen, Mr. Liang Daoxing, Director-General of the Executive Office of the 2011 SU Organizing Committee and Xu Deli, Vice-Chair of the 2011 SU Organizing Committee.

Mr. Killian and the Chinese Officials

‘Three years ago we were honored with the attribution of the 26th Summer Universiade. For these past three years we have been delivering our promises working hard and modernizing our city to be ready to host the Games. We thank FISU for continuously helping us to get prepared’, the Vice-Mayor said. At this EC meeting the OC will present its 7th progress report of the Games’ preparation. ‘We always value your suggestions to enhance our work. We will be ready to embrace the world. Shenzhen is reaching out to welcome our friends from all over the world.’

Before starting the meeting, Mr. Killian asked a minute of silence for the deceased FISU Family members, Mr. Collings (CRS), Mr. Frenkl (former Assessor) and Mr. Lojacono (CUSI). Then the meeting traditionally started with the approval of the report of the previous meeting, followed by the reports of the President, the Treasurer and the Secretary-General.

Mrs Odell outlined the policy statement for the management and development of the Winter and Summer Universiades. The key aims and objectives are as follows.

– To regularly review the current range of sports/disciplines within the Winter and Summer Universiades under various categories;

– To regularly assess the relationship between sports within the WUC structure and those within the Universiades;

– To state criteria for the in/exclusion of sports in order to properly manage the dimensions of the WU and SU;

– To regularly review the impact of change on resource requirements for the future;

– To manage risk to both FISU and its Universiade partners through planned control of the scale of these events;

– To ensure that the Universiades meet both the values and over-arching objectives of the federation, i.e. that these events are affordable, sustainable, delivered through partnership and fully business planned.

Next, Laurent Briel, WUC Director, gave a brief explanation of the new extranet which shall be launched later this month for the FISU Family members.

The morning session ended with a viewing of the new video of FISU, promoting the next Winter and Summer Universiades for 2011, 2013 and 2015.

In the afternoon session, the delegates from the OC of the FISU Forum in Vigo represented an update of the preparations for the Forum. The OC has received the quantitative entry forms from 62 countries, with 118 officials, of whom 89 are men and 29 women, with 77 students of which 43 are men and thirty 34 women. In addition, the OC has secured the full support of the Spanish and Portuguese university systems, and in fact, the response has been extremely positive: with 41 more participants from 23 Spanish and Portuguese universities. At this moment 238 participants are registered from whom they have already received 61 individual entry forms. All information about key-note speeches, the city and university of Vigo, the Higher Sports Council of Spain, etc. will be published in three languages: English, French and, for the first time, Spanish. All other information will only be available in English and French. The rest of the book will be published only in English and French. This booklet will be presented to all participants. Mr. Xabier Alonso: ‘We are very proud and excited about the Forum and we know that all participants and guests will have a wonderful time in our great city. t’s a pleasure for us to be here and thank you very much for your invitation to attend this meeting and we hope to see you in Vigo.’ The progress report ended with a promotional video about the city of Vigo.

Mr. Stefan Bergh, Chair of the CDSU reported on the activities for the Development Committee. At the meeting in Shenzhen, 3 projects were attributed for AUSF, 5 for FASU, 2 for ODUPA. Regarding the FISU Membership development, a list of potential new FISU member countries was edited and studied. For the FISU/UNESCO/Gwangju project, a memorandum of understanding has been developed. The General concept and program structure will be discussed with Gwangju and UNESCO.

Mrs. Verena Burk, Chair of the Women’s Committee gave an update of her Committee’s activities. Main topic was the presence of the Committee at the 2010 FSU Forum with a session ‘Women’s Leadership in (University) Sport’ with two keynote speakers. At the Forum a promotional fact sheet about the WC will be distributed to the participants.

Next, Mr. Leonz Eder, Chair of the Press Committee joined Verena Burk who is also the IPC Vice-Chair to present the latest activities of the Press Committee, as they presented their report on their participation in the 73rd AIPS Congress in Antalya, Turkey and the Seminar of the Young Journalists at the 2011 SU.

1st Vice-President and CESU Chair Mr. Gallien gave an update of the FORUM contents and keynote speakers. He also gave more information regarding the Scientific forum at the 2011 Winter Universiade and the FISU Conference at the 2011 Summer Universiade in Shenzhen. Subtopics are chosen and potential keynote speakers identified. Mr. Gallien also assessed the current situation in Haiti and will see what the regional (ODUCC) and continental (ODUPA) associations can do to help FEHSU, the local FISU MA to rebuilt University sport in Haiti.

The delegates representing Portugal for the WUC ChessKolë Gjeoshaj, Director of Educational Services and Development gave an update of his department and his presence at the Thailand University Games and his visit to the two Thai schools FISU supports.

Sinisa Jasnic, CTI Chair for the WUC and Laurent Briel, WUC Director gave an update of this year’s Championship program and gave an overview of the registered participants so far.

A number of 2012 WUC candidates presented their bids and the following WUC were attributed to the 2012 program, which brings the number of WUC for 2012 to 17.

2012 WUC Chess to Guimaraes, Portugal

2012 WUC Bridge to Reims, France

2012 WUC Golf to Liberec, Czech Republic

2012 WUC Match Racing to Vallauris, France

2012 WUC Cross-Country to Lodz, Poland

2012 WUC Karate to Bratislava, Slovakia

Tomorrow, May 15th the OC of the future Universiades will present their progress reports.

Christian Pierre, Press Officer

Shenzhen Vice-Mayor Jie Tang