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FISU - Fédération Internationale du Sport Universitaire

Founded in 1949, FISU stands for Fédération Internationale du Sport Universitaire (International University Sports Federation). FISU's main responsability is the supervision of both the Summer and Winter Universiades, as well as the World University Championships. The General Assembly representing its members (167 National University Sports Federations) is FISU's main governing body. It elects for a four-year period the Executive Committee, which takes all the necessary decisions for the smooth running of FISU. Sixteen permanent commissions advise the Executive Committee in their specialised areas, thus facilitating its duties. FISU is funded through subscription, organising and entry fees, television incomes and marketing activities.

The Universiades

The Universiade is an international sporting and cultural festival which is staged every two years in a different city. The Summer Universiade consists of 10 compulsory sports with 13 compulsory disciplines (Athletics - Basketball - Fencing - Football - Artistic Gymnastics - Rhythmic Gymnastics - Judo - Swimming - Diving - Water-Polo - Table Tennis - Tennis - Volleyball) and up to three optional sports chosen by the host country. The record figures are 11,785 participants in Kazan, Russia in 2013 and 174 countries in Daegu, Korea, in 2003. The Winter Universiade consists of 6 compulsory sports with 10 compulsory disciplines (Alpine Skiing - Snowboarding - Ski Jumping - Cross-Country skiing - Nordic combined - Curling - Ice Hockey - Short Track Speed Skating - Figure Skating - Biathlon) and one or two optional sports, also chosen by the host country. It reached a record of 2,668 participants in Trentino, Italy, in 2013 and a record number of 52 countries in Erzurum, Turkey, in 2011.

The World University Championships

FISU's other important sporting events are the World University Championships (WUC). The development of university sport in the world created a new series of meets and competitions to complete the Universiade programme. FISU supports those competitions which represent the continuity of university sport and allow the federation to be better known. In 2014, FISU staged 28 WUCs, which attracted 6,6448 participants. In 2016 we will have 34 events! The WUC sports programme comprises: American Football - Archery - Badminton - Baseball - Basketball 3x3 - Beach Volleyball - Boxing - Bridge - Canoe Sprint - Canoe slalom - Cheerleading - Chess - Cross Country - Cycling - Equestrian - Floorball - Futsal - Golf - Handball - Karate - Korfball - Modern Pentathlon - Netball - Orienteering - Roller Sport - Rowing - Rugby Sevens - Sailing - Sambo - Shooting Sports - Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined - Ski Orienteering - Speed Skating - Sport Climbing - Squash - Triathlon - Waterskiing - Weightlifting - Woodball - Wrestling - Wushu.

The Eligibility

The Universiades and Championships are open to all student athletes that have not been out of university or an equivalent institution for more than a year, and that are aged between 17 and 28. Any association which is a member of FISU may enter a team or an individual competitor. Entries are accepted from any country eligible for the Olympic Games and from any national federation affiliated to the appropriate international federation.

 
 
 

Welcome from the FISU President

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Dear friends,

You are all here in Porto today to attend or participate in the 7th World University Floorball Championship.

This event is part of FISU’s wonderful programme featuring 34 World University Championships in 2016; already in 2014, 28 championships had been held, gathering 6,448 student-athletes.

It is important to mention that 338 World University Championships have been organised under the aegis of FISU since 1962 over the 5 continents. They have featured 42 disciplines and gathered more than 60,000 student-athletes in total.

I should also thank all Organising Committees of these events. Without their energy and enthusiasm and without the support of our member associations these championships would have been impossible. Note also that FISU has benefited greatly from the much valued assistance of many international sports federations with which it maintains close ties.

The 2016 World University Championships represent the 27th edition of these competitions, which take place every two years in even-numbered years. They alternate with the Summer and Winter Universiades, which are organized in odd-numbered years.

The championships provide a large number of students, teachers and sports leaders from various backgrounds with a place, in addition to the Universiades, to meet and share their experiences and ideas. The success of the championships has regularly increased with time. This shows how dynamic FISU member National University Sports Federations have been; more and more of them have put themselves forward for the organisation of a championship.

FISU actively supports those events and endeavours to satisfy students’ creativity and aspirations by regularly promoting innovative sports disciplines. The aim is to retain the spirit of play and encourage the development of an open and curious mind among university athletes.

As university events, these world championships aim at the highest technical level and excellence, which are the basic requirements in university. In this sense, your presence here is already a sign of success.

The International University Sports Federation, the National University Sports Federation of Portugal and all the organisers wish to thank you for your participation and hope that you will be warmly welcomed here, where you will find favourable conditions for the best practice of your sport.

In the name of FISU, I wish you an excellent championship.

Oleg Matytsin, FISU President