A strong legacy from one FISU World Forum to the next

The Costa Rica 2022 FISU World Forum’s Declaration, with its recommendations and their implementation, was presented on the first day of the Zagreb 2024 FISU World Forum.

Two years ago, the Costa Rica 2022 FISU World Forum took place from 5-9 December, with “University Sport: A Tool for Sustainable Development” as its main theme. After five fantastic days of exchanges, visits, panels etc, the Declaration was born. This document lists recommendations for the future, so that everything discussed during the FISU World Forum doesn’t simply stay as memories in the participants’ minds.

The Costa Rica 2022 FISU World Forum’s Declaration was presented on the opening day of the Zagreb 2024 FISU World Forum by Inès Gomez from Argentina, who is a member of the FISU Education Committee and FISU Young Ambassador Sergio Calderon Monge from Costa Rica, who worked as a volunteer at the FISU World Forum in his home country before joining the programme.

Following the UNICEF Sustainable Development Goals, the Declaration was divided into five chapters. First the recommendations, then the implementation status.

Good health and well-being

• FISU shall promote the importance of mental health in university sport and make it a crucial element of its Healthy Campus Programme
• FISU shall advocate for more opportunities to practice sport in universities to tackle the vastly spread issues of obesity, mental health troubles and other post-pandemic consequences
• FISU shall organise educational sessions for university leaders, employees and students to inform them of the important role university sport can play for a better health and well-being

Implementation: The main theme of Rhine Ruhr 2025 FISU World Conference will be : “Competing for Change: Exploring Sustainability and (Mental) Health through Sports”. Mental and Social Health is one of the seven domains FISU promote for Universities through FISU’s Healthy Campus Programme.

Quality education

• FISU shall advocate for and promote the role of sport as an educational tool
• FISU shall encourage and contribute to research on the role of (university) sport in educational systems
• FISU shall develop, implement and promote dual career systems to enable student-athletes to continue their athletic and their university careers

Implementation: Development of a Dual Career toolkit. Upcoming series of webinars and seminars on Dual Career (2024-2026). Development of 2024 FISU Springboard Programme. FISU is co-applicant of an Erasmus Mundus project “International Master in Sustainable Sport Management”. Dual Career is one of the criteria FISU promote for Universities through the FISU Healthy Campus Programme.

Gender Equality

• FISU shall promote the role of university sport to empower women and propose solutions such as mentoring, education and media campaigns to value the role of women in sport
• FISU shall improve its procedures and rules to include more women in leadership positions (executive committee, committees)
• FISU shall promote existing initiatives and value the positive projects developed by its membership on the theme of Gender Equality

Implementation: Introduction of 2023 Gender Equality Awards in 2023. Gender Equality webinars and roundtables. Ongoing Gender Equality reviews. Work Package (Leadership & Governance) carried out, resulting in data collection and analysis of the representation of women in FISU Committees, and subsequent recommendations. Inventory by gender and continental region of the number of students, student-athletes, coaches and officials (if applicable) at FISU sports and educational events. Gender balanced representation in FISU activities.

Reduced inequalities

• FISU shall develop projects to reduce inequalities through university sport, especially through entrepreneurship opportunities for student-athletes
• FISU shall continue to help students and student-athletes from less privileged countries to attend its events to share their experiences and knowledge
• FISU shall host educational events promoting good practices in the field of the reduction of inequalities through sport

Implementation: Upcoming FISU World University Games (Torino 2025 + Rhine-Ruhr 2025) will include para-athletes for the first time in FISU competitions. Subtheme of the Zagreb 2024 FISU World Forum. FISU Step Up Programme.

Climate action

• FISU shall become a leader in sport for climate action through the adaptation of its policies and the reduction of its greenhouse gas emissions
• FISU shall promote sustainable actions towards its primary stakeholders (NUSF, OCs, Universities)
• FISU shall encourage educational initiatives on the theme of climate action and sustainability

Implementation: FISU is co-applicant of an Erasmus Mundus project “International Master in Sustainable Sport Management”. Focus of Rhine Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games. FISU partnership with key organisations to ensure exchange of best practices of sustainable development

Written by Thérèse Courvoisier, pictures courtesy of Johanna Wilhelmsson and Jackeline Torres Vargas