ITTIGEN – The Swiss University Sport Federation (SUSF) hosted the annual General Assembly in the House of Sports of the Swiss Olympic Association in Ittigen near Bern. Besides of the statutory topics the best student-athletes of the year 2014 were honoured and awarded. The winner of the Swiss Student Sports Award was Matthias Kyburz who won four medals at the 2014 World University Orienteering Championship, namely 2 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze medal. The whole Orienteering team with HoD Roland Schütz received gifts from Marilen Matter Graf, Head of SUSF Elite sports, for their outstanding performances. The SUSF awarded other prizes to the cycling and floorball teams, both medal winners at the 2014 WUCs. Swiss student-athletes participated at 14 WUCs and won 14 medals in total, 4 gold, 3 silver and 7 bronze.
SUSF CEO Leonz Eder presenting the annual report
Under the leadership of SUSF CEO Leonz Eder,the delegates from most of the National University Sports Organizations accepted the annual report, the report of the treasurer and also the budget for 2015. In close cooperation with the Swiss Olympic Association, SUSF started a new project for the better coordination of studies and elite sport. A new part time job was created in order to evaluate all the possibilities for the students at Swiss Universities to better combine their academic needs with the goals of their sport career. First results are expected to be presented in the running year.
2014 was not only a successful WUC year for the SUSF on the field of sports, but also as organizer of the WUC Golf in Crans-Montana. Secretary-General Guy Praplan presented his final report and was awarded with a special prize, together with OC President Pierre Bruchez. HoD Fredi Schneider presented the success of the Swiss team at the 27th Winter Universiade in Strbské Pleso and Granada. The 4th place in the medal ranking is the best result ever for Swiss teams at the Winter Universiade.
HoD Renato Maggi presenting Gwangju
HoD Renato Maggi showed a preview to the Summer Universiade in Gwangju where SUSF will participate with the biggest delegation ever, including team sports Handball, Basketball, Volleyball women and men, approximately 180 athletes and officials. The delegates also accepted to participate at the 2017 Universiades, namely in Almaty and Taipei. Finally, Leonz Eder presented a progress report of the bid of Lucerne-Central Switzerland for the 2021 Winter Universiade. The final decision by the political bodies of the 6 cantons concerned, namely Lucerne, Zug, Schwyz, Uri, Obwalden and Nidwalden, will be taken on 7 May.
(Source: SUSF)