November has been busy for FISU and the local organisers of the 2019 Winter and Summer Universiades, doing the final countdown to the events. 2019 will mark several anniversaries in university sport movement in Europe and worldwide, also with celebrations of the Universiades.

In November, the President of the International University Sports Federation (FISU) Mr Oleg Matytsin also met with the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Mr Thomas Bach in the Olympic Capital, with the 2019 Summer and Winter Universiades on top of the agenda. With preparations reaching the final stages for both events, President Bach expressed the his and IOC’s best wishes to student-athletes across the world training to qualify for and compete in next year’s Universiades.



The Russian capital Moscow witnessed the official launch of the branded train for the 29th Winter Universiade, whose design illustrates Siberia's unique natural landscape and culture, as well as displays the logos, marks and mascot of the Winter Universiade 2019, the friendly U-Laika. With 100 days to go for the eagerly awaited 2019 Winter Universiade in the heart of Siberia, all roads and all tracks now lead to Krasnoyarsk for the winter sport spectacle that starts on March 2.



Italian City of Naples hosted high level and series of operational meeting throughout the month, as well as the Heads of Delegation visit end of the month. While noting some work still remains, the overall impressions are positive from sports leaders attending the preliminary Head of Delegation visit related to the upcoming 30th Summer Universiade Napoli 2019, starting on July 3.



The continental university sports body for Europe - the European University Sports Association (EUSA) was founded in 1999, and will celebrate the 20th anniversary next year. FISU was founded in 1949, and the first World University Games - the Universiade was held in 1959, so next year will mark the 70th anniversary of the organisation and the 60th anniversary of the Universiades. Moreover, FISU has foundations also on the International Confederation of Students which was established in 1919, so in 2019 the 100th anniversary will be commemorated.

For more information, please see www.fisu.net.