On Saturday, 14 November 2020, ISF Executive Committee held an online meeting, to discuss and exchange information about development, upcoming events and future agenda of the federation.
The meeting began with welcome remarks from the ISF President Mr Laurent Petrynka who presented the ISF strategy from 2020 to 2022 organised in 5 pillars. He stated: "ISF strategy is based on 5 pillars. It is crucial in this period to propose to ISF member a clear strategy to continue our development."
Regarding the cooperation with the Olympic Movement and the IOC, Mr Petrynka highlighted the role of ISF in promoting Olympic values among school network;
“We have seen in the NOC survey that 86%of them choose schools as target audience and same % focus on education as one of their main topics. It is a unique opportunity for us as the governing body for school sport to take an even more active lead role in working closely with the IOC to spread Olympic values, educating on healthy lifestyle, focusing on gender equality and such important matters. We have a strong international reach through 129 national associations. We are ready to meet and discuss with you how we can support and work together on this,'' stated ISF President Laurent Petrynka who recently participated in the IOC Olympic Education Commission meeting.
The importance of the cooperation development with the Olympic Movement has been also well underlined by Mr David Ngugi, ISF EC Member from Kenya School Sport Federation who added: "People believe in the Olympics, it is the biggest platform for all athletes. By the ISF IOC cooperation, Olympic Values and Olympism will be more strongly spread into schools system worldwide”
During the meeting, ISF Executive Committee members discussed the short- and long-term strategy, partnerships, report from ISF WSC online chess 2020, the events programme for 2020, 2021 and 2020, including the 18th ISF Gymnasiade Jinjiang 2020 (16-23.10.2021) and ISF Gymnasiade U15 Belgrade 2021 (26.6-4.7.2021) preparation.
ISF CEO/Secretary General Hrvoje Custonja presented the strategy for the development of ISF and strengthening of school sport around the World.
ISF vice chair of Sport Committee and ISF EC member Stelios Daskalakis shared thoughts on ISF’s new event Universal Teachers Games: "We believe that Universal Teacher Games (UTG) can be a very good model developed by ISF to includes new experience for schools teachers and children entourage.”
Roman Greba, ISF assessor, chair of ISF Ethic & Legal committee highlighted the innovative event Cool Games, organised annually by the School Sport Federation of Ukraine: "Cool Games is a great mass - grassroots events that allow to includes younger ages, school students. An innovative contribution to youth health development thanks to school sport." Mr Greba also, as an ISF E-sport coordinator, also proposed a plan for development and partnerships for the ISF E-sport Games.
ISF Sports Director presented the report for the recent ISF WSC online chess 2020 and the upcoming events for 2021 and 2022. Also, the delegates for the 2020 events were presented.
ISF Executive Committee unanimously decided to award Mr Raj Kumar – President of the Nepal School Sport Federation and ISF TC delegate for Taekwondo, for his strong contribution to ISF online strategy, launched trough the ISF World Schools Taekwondo Poomsae Virtual Championship 2020.
Second part of the meeting included presentations of the preparations for the ISF Gymnasiade World School Games U15 Belgrade 2021 and 18th ISF Gymnasiade Jinjiang 2020.
"We will be fully ready to host the ISF Gymnasiade U15 Belgrade 2021. It will be a unique event for the school students of the world." Stated Zeljko Tanaskovic, ISF assessor, Chair of ISF Sport Committee and president of Serbian School Sport Federation. The members positively welcomed that fact that this event will also be the opportunity to implement an extended educational programme which will actively include the members of the ISF Athletes’ and Youth committee.
ISF CEO/Secretary General Hrvoje Custonja and President of the China School Sports Federation Mr Xue Yanqing presented the successful and ongoing preparation for the 18th ISF Gymnasiade Jinjiang2020 (which will be held in Jinjiang, China from 6th to 23rd October 2021).
During the meeting Mr Custonja also highlighted the new event participation policy which provides opportunities to involve more school students around the world in ISF events. Schools will have the opportunity to apply directly to ISF events.
ISF President Laurent Petrynka closed the meeting thanking the ISF Executive Committee members: "Thank you to ISF members for your continuous work and innovative ideas in keeping our organization growing and innovating to keep the #youth active and contribute to their empowerment."
