The FISU Executive Committee for the four-year term from 2019 to 2023 was elected in November ©FISU

International University Sports Federation (FISU) President Oleg Matytsin has predicted a bright future for the organisation under the guidance of its newly-formed Executive Committee.

The body's Executive Committee for the four-year term from 2019 to 2023 was elected in November, during the 36th FISU General Assembly in Italian city Turin.

The FISU Executive Committee has big plans to drive forward the university sports movement, and take it to greater heights, it is claimed.

One of the priorities in the coming quadrennial will be to connect and engage directly with university students worldwide.

"I’m really proud to have such a great team," Matytsin said.

"It’s a very good gender balance and, of course, professionally - age, experience, knowledge, continental representation.

"So I believe it’s a unique team because we have new members elected from the countries who really contribute a lot for the FISU development.

"It’s also the signal and message for others.

"We have representatives from the big countries like the United States, like China, of course, Italy just celebrated its 70th anniversary and 60th of the first Universiade.

"I’m really proud and I wish all my colleagues the best, and again it’s my privilege to be the leader of this team.”

Uganda's Penninah Aligawesa Kabenge became a vice-president of FISU at the meeting, an election hailed by Matytsin.

"I’m very, very proud," he said.

"It’s not just because she’s a lady.

"She’s representing a great continent in Africa and she has experience for many years as general secretary of the African continental federations and, of course, for us to have one more lady in the steering is also a great message for all others.

"We respect very much gender opportunities and we will continue to work very hard to provide more and more opportunities for ladies.

"It doesn’t matter whether it’s on the sports field or on the governance of FISU."