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20 November 2023 – Geneva

FISU elects Eder as President

At the 38th FISU General Assembly in Geneva, Leonz Eder was unanimously elected President of the International University Sports Federation (FISU). The Swiss, who recently served as Interim President, will lead the newly elected Executive Committee, which includes Dr Verena Burk as one of five Vice-Presidents, for the next four years.

"I am truly honoured to have the opportunity to continue to guide the university sport community in the exciting times that lie ahead," said President Eder in his speech. He was elected in Geneva by the 115 Member Associations present.

Five-person delegation from Rhine-Ruhr 2025

The five-person delegation from Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU Games gGmbH was also in Geneva. Niklas Börger (CEO), Ramea Möller (Stakeholder Management), Martin Olszowy (Programme Management), Robert Breitbarth (Venue Management) and Donna Spethman (International Services) presented the plans for the FISU World University Games to be held in five cities in the Rhine-Ruhr region of North Rhine-Westphalia in 2025.

© Rhine-Ruhr 2025

"We introduced our concept to the foreign delegations. We received very good feedback. That gives us an extremely positive impulse," says Börger, summing up the discussions on site. The foreign delegations were invited to get a first-hand impression prior to the Games.

© Rhine-Ruhr 2025

In a presentation on stage at the General Assembly, Börger also gave a comprehensive status report on the planning of the FISU World University Games 2025 and an outlook on the next steps to be taken by the Organising Committee. The clear regional focus of the event in the Rhine-Ruhr region was particularly emphasised. This also received a positive response from the members of the General Assembly.

© Rhine-Ruhr 2025

Congratulations to Dr Verena Burk

However, the focus was naturally on the elections to the Executive Committee. The Rhine-Ruhr 2025 Organising Committee is particularly pleased with the appointment of Dr Verena Burk as Vice President - alongside Luciano Atayde da Costa Cabral (Brazil), Jin Liu (China), Penninah Kabenge (Uganda) and Marian Dymalski (Poland). "She fully deserves it. Her outstanding contributions to FISU are unquestionable and she is also a great support for us in our planning for 2025," said Börger. Burk had already been a member of the Executive Committee since 2019. She has been involved in the German University Sports Federation (adh) for many years. At the FISU World University Games in Chengdu this year, she received the FISU flag together with Mahmut Özdemir, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister of the Interior and Community.

© FISU

The Rhine-Ruhr 2025 Organising Committee congratulates President Leonz Eder and all elected members.