The International University Sports Federation (French: Fédération internationale du sport universitaire, FISU) is responsible for the organization and governance of worldwide sports competitions for student-athletes between the ages of 17 and 25. It was founded in 1949 as the world governing body of national university sports organizations and currently has 165 member associations (National University Sport Federations) from five continents. From 1949 and 2011 it was based in Brussels, Belgium, and then relocated to Lausanne, Switzerland.
The FISU stages its events every two years. They currently include three World University Games (beach, summer and winter) and 34 World University Championships. It also organizes conferences, forums and seminars to promote sport as a component of the educational system. FISU sanctions other competitions open to university students, such as the biennial World University Bridge Championships in contract bridge, "played under the auspices of the FISU".
Contents
Organization
A General Assembly elects an executive committee for a four-year term. Oleg Matytsin was elected president for 2015–2019, succeeding Claude-Louis Gallien. The secretary-general and CEO is Eric Saintrond; regional vice-presidents are Leonz Eder, Luciano Cabral, Marian Dymalski, Leopold Senghor and Liguo Yang.
Past presidents include:
1949–1961: Paul Schleimer (LUX)
1961–1999: Primo Nebiolo (ITA)
1999–2011: George E. Killian (USA)
2011–2015: Claude–Louis Gallien (FRA)
2015–2022: Oleg Matytsin (RUS)
2022–2027: Leonz Eder (SUI)
Continental associations
Source:
International University Sports Federation since 1949
Africa University Sports (FASU) since 1971
Asian University Sports Federation (AUSF) since 1992
European University Sports Association since 1999
FISU Americas since 2007
FISU Oceania since 2008
Events and sports
Summer
The FISU World University Games, formerly and commonly referred to as the Universiade, is an international sporting event staged every two years in a different city. There were 7.966 athletes in Kazan in 2013, and 174 participating countries in Daegu, South Korea, in 2003.:
The current program of the Summer Universiade includes 12 compulsory sports (15 compulsory disciplines):
Winter
Starting in 2025,the Winter Games includes ten compulsory sports, and one to four optional sports are chosen by the host country or city. If speed skating is on the list of the optional sports, a fourth could be chosen.
World University Championships
While the Universiades are held in odd years, the FISU World University Championships are held in even years. It includes individual/team sports, indoor/outdoor sports, combat sports, mind sports and summer/winter sports.
International Day of University Sport
The International Day of University Sport is celebrated every year on 20 September by the FISU and UNESCO.
Continental
All-Africa University Games
ASEAN University Games
Asian University Athletics Championships
European Universities Games
FISU America Games
SELL Student Games
South American University Athletics Championships
Banning
In light of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, FISU suspended Russian and Belarusian athletes and national university sports federation officials from participating in FISU competitions and activities until at least the end of 2022, cancelled two FISU University World Cups in Russia and a FISU World University Championships in Belarus scheduled for 2022 (the FISU University World Cup Powerlifting from Moscow, the FISU University World Cup Rugby Sevens from Kazan, and the FISU World University Championship Waterski & Wakeboard from Belarus), and cancelled Russia's hosting of the FISU University World Cup Combat Sports and associated meetings scheduled for 2022. The FISU also suspended the hosting rights and cancelled the 2023 Summer World University Games, scheduled for Yekaterinburg.