Today the International University Sports Federation (FISU) is celebrating the first ever UNESCO-proclaimed International Day of University Sport, as students around the globe take part in special activities organised by National University Sport Federations (NUSFs) and universities.
The annual event focuses on promoting the role universities play in promoting sport worldwide and the all-round educational benefit of physical activity.
As part of the celebrations, NUSFs are working with partners such as higher educational institutions, national sport federations, ministries of sport and education, National Olympic Committees and city-sport authorities to stage inclusive sporting, educational and cultural events on university campuses.
"FISU is extremely proud that UNESCO has proclaimed 20 September to be the International Day of University Sport. This is a huge step forward as we look to reinforce the role sport plays in higher education, using its values of integration and cooperation to complement the learning that takes place in lecture halls. It is this powerful combination that will help create our future leaders.
"By making 20 September a day dedicated to university sport, I hope we never lose sight of sport’s incredible potential to help shape young people in becoming well-rounded and socially responsible citizens" said FISU President Oleg Matytsin.
Events taking place to celebrate the International Day of University Sport include a campus run at Yangzhou University in the People’s Republic of China, a cheerleading contest at Université de Reims in France and student competitions at more than 50 universities in Russia. "Lausanne in Motion", FISU’s existing International University Sport Festival taking place on 24 September, has also provided inspiration for two other similar Festivals in Melbourne, Australia, and in Oslo, Norway. Overall more than 50 countries across five continents are joining FISU and UNESCO in celebrating the inaugural International Day of University Sport including Madagascar, South Africa, Argentina, Cuba, Costa Rica, Lebanon, Israel, Nepal, Hungary, Switzerland and the Russian Federation.
"University sport has a very special place in the sporting world as a vector of human, social and civic values, fully integrated into the education of today’s and tomorrow’s citizens," said Director-General of UNESCO Irina Bokova.
"By putting sport at the heart of dialogue between teachers and students, this first International Day of University Sport, celebrated by UNESCO and the International University Sports Federation, aims to promote these values among young adults and, through them, to society as a whole.
"Dialogue, self-respect and respect for others, fair play and pursuit of excellence are all framing principles of student training. Education and sport need to be at the core of our societies, and this Day provides a forum to highlight the social role of universities and their curricula by making sport available to all and encouraging people to exercise regularly."
For more information, please contact:
Jack Zorab
Email: jack@jtassocs.com
Tel: +44 (0) 7833 050764
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