FISU President Oleg Matytsin (left) with IOC President Thomas Bach earlier this year for meetings at the IOC headquarters © IOC
LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND – Oleg Matytsin was appointed this week to the IOC Education Commission, following two years of dedicated and innovative leadership as the FISU President. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) made a statement updating a number of its commissions earlier this week.
The IOC Education Commission brings together experienced and respected leaders active in the world of sport and education to support the Olympic education strategy, advising the IOC and Executive Board on the promotion of education centred around the Olympic values. The Commission also provides strategic direction for programmes and activities run by the IOC to the education of youth through sport.
Given its role as the Olympic Movement’s body for university sport, and serving as a conduit to almost 25,000 university campuses around the world, FISU has a great deal to contribute in this area. President Matytsin confirmed his delight at joining the Commission as FISU’s representative: “I am very grateful for this wonderful opportunity and look forward to representing FISU in contributing even more to the development of the Olympic Movement. The synergy between higher education and Olympic sports continue to grow, and we at FISU are committed to the continuation of this partnership.”
The FISU President fielding questions at the education-focused 2018 FISU ForumExcellent collaboration between FISU and the IOC is already underway on the education front, with IOC Education Commission Chair Barry Maister helping to open the FISU Forum in Krasnoyarsk, Russia. Now in its 14th edition, this five day educational forum is focused on strengthening the link between education and sport.
“Athletes are part of the movement,” Mr. Maister said. “And there is an obligation on the IOC and FISU to help them in career opportunities beyond sport.”
This obligation is one that FISU does not take lightly, with the international university sports leader continues to set the pace in the development of equal opportunities in sport, values and ethics, and good governance. The recent FISU Forum and Volunteer Leaders Academy are just two examples of the innovative and vibrant thinking FISU is undertaking to engage the future leaders of tomorrow in sports participation and management.
The next IOC Commission meetings are scheduled to take place from 14 to 20 January 2019, following the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires at the start of October, at which FISU will also be present.