University Sport New Zealand - Nga Hakinakina Whare Wananga o Aotearoa

International University Sports Federation

FISU is the International University Sports Federation (Federation Internationale du Sporte Universitiare) and is the international governing body of university sport. The organisation employs around 20 staff and is based in Brussels, Belgium. Over 170 nations are currently in membership of FISU, including New Zealand.

USNZ is the New Zealand member of FISU and only USNZ can sanction New Zealand teams and individuals to compete at FISU events.

FISU is governed by a biennial General Assembly (next meeting in Bangkok in August 2007). A 20 strong Executive is elected every 4 years along with the President, Treasurer and other senior positions. Elections will next be held at the 2007 General Assembly.

FISU Events

FISU is responsible for delivering (through host countries and their organising committees) the following University sports events:

a)  World University Games (also called the Universiade) which is staged every 2 years in ‘odd’ years - next in Bangkok, Thailand in August 2007;
b)  World University Winter Games (also called the Winter Universiade) also staged every 2 years in ‘odd’ years - next in Torino, Italy in January 2007
c)  World University Championships - individual sports championships held every 2 years in the ‘even’ years - FISU is organising 27 different World University Championships in 2006 ranging from Rowing in Lithuania to Triathlon in Switzerland and Water Skiing in the USA.

FISU also organises i) the biennial FISU Forum - a gathering of students from its member nations to consider different structures and practices in deliving student sport around the world (next in Abu Dhabi in March 2006); and ii) the FISU Conference - an academic sports conference held at the same time as each World University Games.

FISU Website

For further information, click on the FISU website which details its events, dates, regulations, member nations etc.

Click on FISU Magazine for a direct link to PDF versions of the quarterly FISU Magazine (beware download sizes are large!)