FISU Executive Committee Meeting held in Changchun
The International University Sports Federation (FISU) Executive Committee convened its first meeting of 2026 in Changchun, China, the host city of the Changchun 2027 FISU Winter Universiade, delivering several strategic decisions shaping the future of university sport globally.
The gathering brought together organisational leadership to take decisions of long-term significance for international university sport, marking a moment of structured strategic reflection and decisive action, as the Executive Committee approved key measures shaping the organisation’s future.
One of the key moments of the Executive Committee Meeting was FISU President Leonz Eder announcing his intention to retire in 2027, marking a significant milestone in the organisation’s leadership transition ahead of the next General Assembly.
Another notable decision was the return of the “Universiade” name, reinforcing brand recognition and positioning the event series at the core of university sport globally.
Presented by FISU Secretary General and CEO Matthias Remund, the Strategy 2031 is structured around four main pillars: sport events, education, student well-being and sustainability, aiming to provide clearer priorities, stronger governance and enhanced cooperation across the FISU membership, including continental federations such as EUSA.
Governance reform was another key focus, with the Executive Committee contributing to the development of a proposal for updated FISU Statutes. Several sport-related decisions were also endorsed, including updates to FISU sporting programmes, the introduction of cross-country running at the Changchun 2027 Winter Universiade, the inclusion of innovative disciplines such as Hyrox, and the confirmation of optional sports for future events, alongside revised and harmonised age eligibility criteria across competitions.
EUSA was represented at the meeting by its President, Haris Pavletic, who actively contributed to the discussions on strategic development and governance reform, ensuring that the interests and perspectives of European university sport were taken into account and aligned with FISU’s future direction.
Progress reports from the organising committees of the Changchun 2027 FISU Winter Universiade and the Chungcheong 2027 FISU Summer World University Games highlighted positive developments and effective preparation.
Joint efforts by FISU and EUSA, and other continental bodies, contribute to the growth of university sport, strengthen organizational frameworks, increase athlete participation, and encourage international connections.
For more information and updates on FISU, please visit: fisu.net