PCU Committee President’s message for the 10th Anniversary

Dear Panathlon friends,

I’m honored and pleased to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the PCU Committee in a world finally rising up again after the pandemic that impacted all of us. But even in the background of this tragic event, the PCU Committee continued its growth as the university sport oriented platform of Panathlon International, organizing and endorsing university sport events with the focus on fair play and ethics in student sport.

With the introduction of an extended interactive online platform the last 2 years, we managed to reach out to students worldwide at a moment that the organization of live sport events was impossible in most parts of the world. The combination of our efforts on venue and online, resulted in 2020 in a membership and network membership of 299 universities and university colleges in 85 countries. Figures that make me proud and humble. Consequently, the PCU Committee is proud to express gratefulness to all students and university sport professionals that share our values as an active participant in one of our many events.

In 1999 the basis of the PCU Committee was established as an independent initiative of Belgian and Dutch students, the “European Student Football Championship”. Over the years the number of sports was extended and the initiative was incorporated in the non-profit association IFIUS. In 2011, the association became part of Panathlon International and the initiative was welcomed by the 2011 President of the International Olympic Committee J. Rogge. Today the PCU Committee is a respected part of the Panathlon movement with activities and events for students, universities and university colleges worldwide, in an area that makes a difference: Student Fair Play and Ethics in University Sport.

It is symbolic that on our 10th anniversary, we are able to organize our first live events again since 2019, the PCU Bridge Trophy 2021 in October and the PCU Chess Cup 2021 in December. This development strengthens our believe that soon all our activities and events will be organized in normal circumstances in a world looking forward again.

Finally, on behalf of the PCU Committee Executive Board, I wish to thank all persons and organizations that contributed to the success of the PCU Committee these last 10 years, especially and foremost Panathlon International and its past and current Presidents, Enrico Prandi, Giacomo Santini and Pierre Zappelli.

Best personal regards,

Peter Verboven

President PCU Committee (Committee Panathlon Clubs of Universities)