20 September 2016 – the first ever International Day of University Sports
The International Day of University Sport (IDUS) will be celebrated annually on 20 September. It is officially endorsed by the United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organisation (UNESCO).
Among others, the day aims at confirming the importance of sport in universities and the role of universities in the community as responsible actors for consolidating and developing quality physical and sport education at the service of citizens.
Message from Ms Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of the ‘International Day of University Sport’
University sport has a very special place in the sporting world as a vector of human, social and civic values, fully integrated into the education of today’s and tomorrow’s citizens. By putting sport at the heart of dialogue between teachers and students, this first International Day of University Sport, celebrated by UNESCO and the International University Sports Federation, aims to promote these values among young adults and, through them, to society as a whole. Dialogue, self-respect and respect for others, fair play and pursuit of excellence are all framing principles of student training. Education and sport need to be at the core of our societies, and this Day provides a forum to highlight the social role of universities and their curricula by making sport available to all and encouraging people to exercise regularly. Celebration of this International Day also provides an opportunity for UNESCO to reaffirm its commitment to individual and collective development through sport and education, as stated in the International Charter of Physical Education, Physical Activity and Sport and the International Convention against Doping in Sport. In this spirit, UNESCO is proud to support the International University Sports Federation and work together towards upholding a more peaceful and fair sporting and social environment.
FISU President Oleg Matytsin’s Message regarding IDUS 2016 is available here
