The home of university sports is gearing up for what will be a momentous year for many reasons. 2018 saw many firsts and some impressive records set for FISU, the International University Sports Federation, but 2019 promises to be all that and even more! As FISU marches ahead, proudly brandishing its rich history, they are calling this the Year of Legacy.

Here are 10 milestones to watch out for, on FISU’s action-packed 2019 calendar:

10. Krasnoyarsk 2019 Winter Universiade

First up, barely two months into the new year and we will be heading to the heart of Siberia for the Krasnoyarsk 2019 Winter Universiade, from 2-12 March. This edition will be the first Winter Universiade ever to be hosted in Russia and promises to give the world a taste of #RealWinter. With temperatures dropping to -30°C and some of the most stunning winter sport venues ever seen, Krasnoyarsk 2019 is expected to go down in history as one of the best editions ever.

9. FISU World Conference

As in previous years, the FISU World Conference will also be held in Krasnoyarsk alongside the Universiade, from 5-7 March. The theme for the scientific summit this year is ‘University Sport Events: Innovation for Legacy and Sustainability’ and the objective is to move towards the future with responsibility. Universiade impact study results will be presented by different experts and young scientists will present their research, new technology, ideas and innovative practices for the sustainable development of sport.

8. Napoli 2019 Summer Universiade

The excitement of Krasnoyarsk would have barely died down before the build-up for the Summer Universiade starts. The 30th Summer Universiade will take place in the Naples, Italy, from 3-14 July. Napoli 2019 has already made news for being the first major multi-sport event that will house part of its athletes’ village on board two luxury cruise ships! But there’s much more to look forward to at the mega-event that will see more than 8,000 elite athletes in action, across 18 major Olympic sports.

7. 60th Anniversary of the Universiade

What makes 2019 particularly special is the fact that it marks the 60th anniversary of the Universiade. Yes, indeed! The first ever ‘Universiade’ was held from 27 August to 6 September in 1959 and that too, in Italy - Merano! Torino/Turin was the host city back then and it is only fitting that the 30th edition of the biennial Universiade heads back to Italy for the 60th.

6. 70th Anniversary of FISU

2019 is also the 70th anniversary of FISU itself. That’s right – the International Federation of University Sports was created in 1949. Even though the ‘International Confederation of Students’ was established in 1919, it was not until 1949 that FISU came to be in its current form and launched the International University Sport Week in Merano, Italy.

5. International Day of University Sport

So, while those anniversary festivities continue on till August 2019, FISU will already be preparing for the International Day of University Sport – the day that sees campuses worldwide celebrating university sport. As every year since its inception and subsequent proclamation by UNESCO, IDUS will be celebrated on 20 September 2019. What remains to be seen however, is if any country can beat Hungary to the pole position. In 2018 the Hungarian University Sports Federation held more than 160 activities bringing together 180,000 participants.

4. University World Cup - 3x3

Another annual event takes place from 30 October to 3 November and that is the University World Cup – 3x3, 2019 Finals. As with the last three editions, this 3x3 basketball extravaganza will be held in Xiamen, China and will see the world’s best university teams taking each other on. Chinese teams completely dominated the 2018 edition but teams from Lithuania and Canada were nipping at their heels. Will they be able to top the podium this time?

3. FISU General Assembly & History Book

Just a few days later, on 15 and 16 November, the FISU General Assembly will take place. This one is an especially important edition of the General Assembly because it is the Year of Legacy. Therefore, in addition to the 174 Member Federations coming together to approve budgets and programmes, a unique, collectors’ item FISU Anniversary Book will be unveiled at the General Assembly. The rare, limited edition book will trace FISU’s rich history and highlight some of the greatest sporting achievements accomplished on the university sports stage.

2. University World Cup - Football

The year’s sporting calendar will close with a bang, as the inaugural edition of the FISU University World Cup - Football will be launched amidst much fanfare from 21 November to 1 December 2019. Similar to the 3x3 event in Xiamen, this first ever University World Cup in Football will have the world’s very best university teams competing against each other. Continental qualifiers will take place through the year, and only the best will make it to Jinjiang, China, which happens to be a stone’s throw from Xiamen. Back to back bonanzas in China’s Fujian province late this year.

1. Year of Legacy

And last, but certainly not the least, all year FISU will be celebrating the Year of Legacy. Legacy is of utmost importance for FISU. Not only does it allow the university sports movement to permeate local communities, but also contributes to the sustainable development of host cities. Thus, FISU events and post-event legacies contribute to spreading the values of university sport. Join FISU in celebrating its legacy all through the year in 2019!

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