FISU stakeholder are set to be given the opportunity to provide their thoughts on what should be included in the strategic plan, titled the “FISU Strategy”.

The move to develop the plan was the main outcome of the FISU’s first Executive Committee meeting of the year in Brussels, where Lucerne were also chosen to host the 2021 Winter Universiade. 

It was the first Executive Committee meeting since Oleg Matytsin was elected as FISU President in November.

“I am pleased to announce that we will soon start developing the FISU Strategy for the next 10 years,” said Matytsin.

“This will define our strategic goals and act as a detailed roadmap for achieving them.

“Our strategy is dictated by our vision, which is: to create a world where University sport has positively shaped the majority of leaders in society.

“Creating and executing a long-term strategy like this is a game changer for FISU and I am very excited to be starting work on it immediately.”

Discussions and presentations across all areas of FISU’s activities took place during the meeting, with the Executive Committee approving an age limit of between 17 and 25 to compete at their events.

Previously, the age limit stood at between 17 and 28.

FISU chief executive and secretary general Eric Saintrond confirmed that the organisation were in the process of finalising a partnership with the Norilsk Nickel Mining and Metallurgical Company.

It followed FISU having sealed commercial partnerships with the United Transport and Forwarding Company (OTEKO), Taishan Sports Industry Group, Qiaodan Sports, Gerflor, Sport Court and Molten.

The meeting also included updates from Almaty 2017, Taipei 2017 and Krasnoyarsk 2019.

Naples also gave a presentation of their bid to host Summer Universiade in 2019 following the withdrawal of the original host Brasilia last year.

The Brazilian capital withdrew due to not being able to meet financial commitments.

“There is a great opportunity for Naples and Campania to host the 2019 Summer Universiade,” said Fulvio Bonavitacola, Deputy President of the Campania region.

“If we are awarded the hosting rights, we will do our utmost to ensure the success of the 2019 Summer Universiade – and to promote the development of University sport in Italy and around the world.

“We are working very hard to fulfil the conditions and requirements set by FISU and we are hopeful of bringing this prestigious event to our wonderful city.”

The next Executive Committee meeting has been scheduled to take place from October 18 to 20 in Taipei.