The next FISU World Forum, with the main theme “University Sports: Creating a Better World”, will be held in Zagreb, Croatia, in six months from August 27th to 31st. Organizing Committee President Marko Junic explains the reasons for registering:
Held every two years since 1992, the FISU World Forum brings together students, staff and other key partners involved in the university sports movement along with FISU member associations. We will promote the values of university sport through discussions and workshops, while providing participants with first-hand experience from a variety of National University Sports Federations (NUSFs).
The FISU World Forum combines educational sessions with cultural, networking and sports activities, making it a powerful communication platform for the various university sports communities.
This year, the 2024 FISU World Forum with the theme “Creating a better world” will be held in the beautiful Croatian city of Zagreb. Discussions, lectures and working groups will explore sports diplomacy and international relations, as well as the sub-themes of diversity and inclusion. And of course, students who participate in the forum also participate in many cultural and sports activities.
FISU Executive Committee member Marko Junic is also the Chairman of the Organizing Committee. He explains why the FISU Forum is so special.
-Please briefly tell us about the Zagreb 2024 FISU World Forum..
-This is a great opportunity for students to connect with each other. I have been participating in his FISU Forum for over 10 years and believe it is a great tool for his FISU and students to engage more deeply and not just through sports. What I personally would like to emphasize is the sub-theme of sports diplomacy. Croatia is a very small country with a population of less than 4 million people, but it is still very famous. Thanks to the success of the national football team, everyone knows the red and white checkered flag.
This is a great example of how we can draw inspiration from sports diplomacy, and we would like to share it with the participants at the Zagreb Forum. However, I would like to emphasize that the former cathedral lecture is by no means a one-sided message. We also want to listen to and learn from young people's views. So we can start co-building a better world.
-Isn't “creating a better world” a bit of a utopia?
– I know this is especially difficult to believe in these difficult times, but for me these are not empty words. It's up to us and future generations to work on making things better, exchanging and debating ideas and perspectives in safe spaces like forums where we all have a common goal. I am. Sports bring cultures together and bring people together.
-How has your world changed since you entered the world of college sports?
-I actually studied law, not sports, but I got into that world through hosting sporting events. First local, then regional, national, and finally international FISU. I'm 39 years old now, and I've been involved in this field for 21 of those years. Of course, this field has shaped my life. Although college sports may not be at the top of all international sporting events, I strongly believe that college sports will shape the future. Sports brings people together and has certainly helped me build my own network.
– Sports have certainly had a huge impact on geopolitics…
– Indeed, especially in this region. It's up to us to decide whether we want to use sports in a positive or negative way. The FISU Forum teaches us all how to make the most of the positive impact of sport.
-Universities educate young people and teach them respect, which is the core of diplomacy.
– Of course, the future of these students is just now being formed, and I think that they should aspire not only to successful businessmen and influential politicians, but also to actors in the world of sports. They must compete with each other, but only win by respecting the rules and their opponents. And everyone can learn from the fresh ideas and pure hearts of the students who participate in the forum.
-What is the expected legacy of the 2024 Zagreb FISU World Forum?
– We want to establish the basis of a platform where people can accept some of the ideas they share and solidify the connections they have made. And I think the interest is there. Already he has about 180 people from 39 countries registered. This is great. But for the forum from August 27 to 31, 2024, he hopes to attract close to 300 participants from about 60 countries.
Additional information about the Zagreb 2024 FISU World Forum, including the registration link for the Forum is open to NUSF (students and staff) only and individual registrations are not accepted, can be found here.