During the 10^th IFIUS General Assembly on Thursday 9 October 2008 in Budapest, a new function was introduced within IFIUS. Baron Francis Van Loon was presented by the IFIUS Executive Committee as the IFIUS Ambassador towards Academic Authorities. Prof. Dr. F. Van Loon is the former Rector of the University of Antwerp and he has always been a close friend of the Federation. With the University of Antwerp he was the host of the 2004 IFIUS World Interuniversity Games.

IFIUS wishes the entire university sports community Happy Holidays. Meanwhile we are also happy to inform you that the communication campaign for the 11th IFIUS World Interuniversity Games Milan 2009 is a great success, reaching universities and colleges from all over the world.

“Universitá Cattolica del Sacro Cuore” , the 2009 Host University, was founded in 1921. Its main campus is located in Milan, Italy, with satellite campuses in Brescia, Piancenza, Cremona, Rome and Campobasso. The “Universitá Cattolica del Sacro Cuore” is known to be one of the biggest private universities in Europe. Thanks to Rector L. Ornaghi and Prof. Mondoni (Head of the Sports Department), the university will act as official Host University for the Milan 2009 Games. The “Universitá Cattolica del Sacro Cuore” has been a member of the IFIUS Family for many years now with successful participations as for example in Budapest 2008 where the Women’s Basketball Team reached the final.

From left to right: IFIUS General Director, P. Verboven - President of the Milan City Council, Mr. Manfredi Palmeri - IFIUS President, Dr. B. Ghadimi

An IFIUS delegation with IFIUS President, Dr. B. Ghadimi, IFIUS General Director, P. Verboven, and Alberto Tanghetti of the local organizing committee was welcomed by Mr. Manfredi Palmeri, President of the Milan City Council to officially welcome the organization of the 11th World Interuniversity Games in Milan. Together with the local organizing committee, the IFIUS delegation and Mr. Palmeri discussed several topics of the hosting of the 2009 Games in Milan and the role of the City of Milan as official Host City of the 11th IFIUS World Interuniversity Games. Milan, the capital of the Northern Italian Region of Lombardy, is well known as one of the world capitals of design and fashion. In addition the city incorporates a long sporting history, being the home of many famous sport clubs like A.C. Milan and P.F. Internazionale … An excellent host for the 11th World Interuniversity Games.

From left to right: Secretary General Panathlon International, Mr. Sergio Allegrini - President Italian Pitch & Putt Federation, Mr. Carlo Farioli - Mr. Ali Nami, IFIUS General Director, P. Verboven - IFIUS President, Dr. B. Ghadimi - Mr. A. Foretan

During the 11th IFIUS World Interuniversity Games, IFIUS will place a new sport on the agenda. Milan 2009 will host the first ever Combined Golf and Pitch & Putt Trial Games. These two sports will be played in a combined competition (36 holes each). Since this is the first time this sport is a part of the World Interuniversity Games, it is therefore a trial competition and no Membership Fee needs to be paid. IFIUS President, Dr. B. Ghadimi, IFIUS General Director, Peter Verboven, and Alberto Tanghetti of the local organizing committee met with the President of the Italian Pitch & Putt Federation, Mr. Carlo Farioli in Milan recently to agree on cooperation between the Federations. During their meeting they visited the venue for the competition. The combined Golf & Pitch & Putt competition will be played at “Le Rovedine Golf Club” in Milan.

IFIUS is pleased to introduce the start of the communication campaign for the 11th World Interuniversity Games Milan 2009. As a result, the Milan pages of the official IFIUS website are launched today in addition to the mailing of the invitation brochures. On the Milan 2009 pages (www.ifius.com/milan) you will find more information about the 11th World Interuniversity Games, how to request a Milan 2009 brochure and how to participate. Finally, an interactive campaign is also launched to inform even more Universities and Colleges about the IFIUS Family.

On Thursday 9 October at 20h00, the 10th IFIUS General Assembly was organized in the Ceremony Hall of the Budapest University of Technology and Economics. The General Assembly is the supreme authority of IFIUS which consists of all IFIUS members. The report of the assembly can be found on the Budapest website. All decisions made during the 10th IFIUS General Assembly will be implemented where necessary during the next months.

After a careful selection process, IFIUS is very happy to announce that the pictures from the official IFIUS photographers of the 10th World Interuniversity Games have been placed online. You can access them by visiting the photo galleries on the Budapest website.

IFIUS is currently selecting among thousands of photos taken during the 10^th World Interuniversity Games, the best shots. Photos of the matches, all ceremonies and other side events will be posted in photo galleries on the Budapest pages on Monday 27 October.

IFIUS is proud to present the new World Interuniversity Champions 2008!

World Interuniversity Champion Futsal Men: Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch (Iran)
World Interuniversity Champion Football Men: University of Nancy (France)
World Interuniversity Champion Football Women: Catholic University Santa Maria La Antigua (Panama)
World Interuniversity Champion Basketball Men: Leningrad State University named after Pushkin (Russia)
World Interuniversity Champion Basketball Women: Budapest University (Hungary)
World Interuniversity Champion Volleyball Men: Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch (Iran)
World Interuniversity Champion Volleyball Women: University of Bacau (Romania)