This year's University Sport Stars Gala was celebrated on December 7 in Moscow, marking the 25th anniversary of the Russian Students Sport Union (RSSU).

RSSU University Sport Stars Gala is a solemn ceremony honouring the best students-athletes and universities, all-Russian sports federations, state, public and commercial organizations that have made a great contribution to the development and popularization of student sports. It is held with the aim of developing student sports and promoting successful performances of Russian athletes as a factor of popularization of student sports in the Russian Federation.



The opening ceremony was attended by the Secretary of the Council for Physical Education and Sports under the President of the Russian Federation Mr Alexei Kulakovsky, President of the International University Sports Federation (FISU) Mr Oleg Matytsin, President of the Russian Students Sport Union (RSSU) Mr Sergey Seyranov, Deputy Minister of Sport of the Russian Federation Mr Igor Sidorkevich, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Ms Marina Borovskaya, Aid to the Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Ms Olga Golodets, Secretary General of the Russian Olympic Committee Mr Veniamin Kaganov, five-time Olympic champion Ms Anastasia Davydova, Head of the Department of Physical Fitness and Sport, Olympic champion Mr Nikolay Gulyaev and other prominent guests.



The President of the Russian Federation Mr Vladimir Putin, Minister of sport of the Russian Federation Mr Pavel Kolobkov, President of the Russian Olympic Committee Mr Stanislav Pozdnyakov sent their greetings to the participants and guests of the Gala and congratulated RSSU on the occasion of the 25th anniversary.



In the festive atmosphere and accompanied by cultural performances, special prizes were awarded to the 27 winners. Awards were attributed for the contribution to the student sports movement, for outstanding achievements in international student competitions, for the development and promotion of student sports, for holding national and international student events, project of the year, education and sport, partners, winners of the All-Russian Summer Universiade, best universities and regions.



The Gala was also an opportunity for promotion of the upcoming Winter Universiade Krasnoyarsk 2019.



The first RSSU Gala was held at the State Kremlin Palace in November 2013 and was dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the federation. That event was the beginning of a good tradition of annual celebration of best achievements.

For more information and photos, please see www.studsport.ru.