A total of 65 Member National University Sports Federations took part in the General Assembly of the International University Sports Federation (FISU) held on the 14th of July in Dusseldorf, Germany.

The Executive Committee meeting took place at the same location over two days, July 12th and 13th, ahead of the General Assembly.

Following both an Executive Committee Meeting and the General Assembly, the International University Sports Federation (FISU) now looks forward to watching student-athletes compete across 18 sports in six cities in the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games.

Secretary General and CEO Matthias Remund presided over his first FISU General Assembly on 14 July in Dusseldorf, just two days before the start of the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games. The event took place in the same stadium that once hosted the opening ceremony of the Duisburg 1989 Universiade.

“Our field of play is a meeting room, and I am happy to say both the Executive Committee Meeting and the General Assembly were really successful”, said Matthias Remund. “As much as we are proud of our past, our responsibility is the future of university sport, the well-being of our students, and the development of our sport competitions and educational events. So after securing the framework, we are excited for the action to begin!”

The FISU Games are also a place where participants from all over the planet come together to share a unique experience, arriving as opponents and often leaving as friends.“We are living in complicated times” reminds FISU President Leonz Eder. And FISU has always been and will always be neutral.  We make sure the dialogue remains open and constructive between our member countries, and our exchanges are cordial and constant. Let’s have wonderful Games, on the field of play and outside. We will succeed by being united!”

The Executive Committee Meeting also served as a valuable opportunity for members to meet two newly appointed key figures in the FISU administration, both of whom will collaborate closely to help shape the future of FISU events: Jukka-Pekka Vuori from Finland, FISU Marketing Director, and Shen Zhen from China, FISU Chief Sport Officer.

During the General Assembly, attended by 65 active National University Sports Federations, two new members were officially welcomed into the FISU Family: Guinea-Bissau and American Samoa.

Both FISU President Leonz Eder and FISU Secretary General and CEO, Matthias Remund, presented their reports during the General Assembly, outlining key achievements, ongoing initiatives, and the strategic direction for the future of university sport.

The European University Sports Association (EUSA) was represented by Adam Roczek, EUSA President and FISU EC Member. 

The Organising Committee for the Torino 2025 FISU World University Games Winter delivered its final report, while the committees for Chungcheong 2027 and North Carolina 2029 presented updates on their progress. Their presentations included key milestones, dynamic videos, and plenty of exciting developments to look forward to.

A highlight of the General Assembly was the formal recognition of outstanding individuals through the appointment of new FISU Honorary Members. These honours were presented in the presence of current Executive Committee members, the FISU President, and the Secretary General and CEO.

The newly appointed FISU Honorary Members are:

• Honorary President: Claude-Louis Gallien
• Emeritus Honorary Member: Eric Saintrond 
• Emeritus Honorary Member: Kemal Tamer 
• Emeritus Honorary Member: Omar Al-Hai 
• Emeritus Honorary Member: Hisato Igarashi 
• Emeritus Honorary Member: Kenny Chow 
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In a special moment at the General Assembly, three Gender Equality Awards were presented:

• Project Award: Student Sport Ireland was honoured for Trinity College Dublin’s "Women in Sport" campaign. 
• Champion Award: Gizem Girişmen, PhD, from the University Sports Federation of Turkiye, was celebrated for her advocacy. 
• Special Award: The Asian University Sports Federation, represented by Lixin Liu, received recognition for the 21st ASEAN University Games 2024. 

The Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games will feature 234 medal events across 18 sports, starting with volleyball on 16 July in Berlin, and ending with rowing and athletics on 27 July in Duisburg. Notably, 3×3 basketball and 3×3 wheelchair basketball will be played side by side at the iconic Jahrhunderthalle in Bochum. Over 9200 participants from more than 100 countries are ready to kick off the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games.

The FISU World Conference, which will happen during the Games, between 17–19 July in Bochum, will add depth with the theme: “Competing for Change: Exploring Sustainability and (Mental) Health Through Sports.”  Fittingly, all competitions will be held in existing venues, underlining the event’s commitment to sustainability and legacy.

*Information & photos courtesy of FISU

For more information, please see https://www.fisu.net/