CARACAS – In Venezuela, the International Day of University Sport will be celebrated with much fanfare on 20 September. The Venezuelan IDUS programme will be centred here, in the city of Caracas, with the main activity being a 3×3 basketball championship in which 20 universities from all over the country will participate. There will also be an open chess tournament.
“The number of universities participating this time is bigger than last year and we expect more and more people to join with each passing year,” said President of the Venezuelan Federation of University Sports (FEVEDEU) Leonardo Morales, while speaking to FISU Student Ambassador Erwind Martinez.
During a meeting held to organise plans for the IDUS celebrations Morales told Martinez that 20 September is a very important festivity for Venezuelan university sport.
“On this day all the actors that are part of university life come together to celebrate; not only athletes, but also professors, all students, trainers and many more,” Morales added. “It is always important to keep a healthy lifestyle and to promote FISU’s values. IDUS provides the perfect scenario for this.”
The FISU Student Ambassador also asked the FEVEDEU President what his federation’s plans are for the rest of the year, IDUS and beyond.
“In the four-month period September onwards, we are planning to hold Border Games with Brazil and are discussing this with the CBDU President Luciano Cabral.”
In fact, this proposal was discussed with the Brazilian university sports federation (CBDU) during the strategic dialogue of FISU America that was held in Bogotá-Colombia in May earlier this year.
About these Border Games, Morales said, “It’s a great idea because they would be something new on the university sport field and also a joint activity of two brother nations. In sports there are no borders; sports unite people.”
Morales also spoke to Martinez about the 19thNational University Games slated for November, in which more than 6000 athletes are expected to participate across 20 sports disciplines. The National University Games will be held in the city of Puerto Cabello.
“Last but not least,” added Morales, “We will attend the 36th General Assembly of FISU in Turin, Italy. And that will be a nice way to round up a productive year!”