The day, which takes place annually on September 20, is set to bring universities and their communities together once again to honour sport, health and physical activity.

The day has been officially proclaimed by the United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organisation.

"I am happy to see each year all the activities happening worldwide for the IDUS - and would like to thank you all for the great commitment," FISU Acting President Leonz Eder said.

"Let us not only think of sport and do sport on this special day but let us take this unifying day as an opportunity to strive for and implement sport and exercise daily, to let it become part of everyday life on campus and in our routines."

The celebratory day is also seen as a chance for students to spark conversations about certain issues, opportunities and best practices specific to university sport.

"Through IDUS activities, FISU wants to involve university sports people together with all stakeholders, not only to promote its sports, but also to create a debate on university sport and to promote FISU’s mission," FISU development and National University Sport Federation relations manager Tarmo Jaakson said.

"It's a perfect platform for the exchange of ideas, developments, challenges, and opportunities within and through university sport on a worldwide level with its partner UNESCO."

Four FISU World Championships - beach volleyball, triathlon, mind sports, canoe sprint - and the FISU University World Cup Combat Sports are scheduled to take place in September.

Since IDUS started in 2016, an excess of 2,000 events across five continents have been staged involving 82 per cent of FISU members.

Last year saw three million people take part in activities related to the events, such as physical activity classes, webinars, tournaments, walks, races and conferences.