PhD student within the SJPLE RTG at the University of Glasgow, Anthony Davis, who is Director of Sport at UTech in Kingston, has recently attended the 27th Summer Universiade in Kazan, Russia in the capacity of Head of Delegation for the Jamaican team and also as a member of the International University Sports Federation (FISU) Education Committee.

Along with the Summer Universiade, FISU organises a four-day academic conference every two years.   The objective of the FISU Conference is to create a platform to present scientific papers on university sport and to stimulate the research on the topic. The task of the Education Services Committee is to promote the scientific study of university sport through conferences, forums, reports, publications, lectures.

The Kazan Conference

The conference was held in the Main International Centre, Universiade Village from July 14 -17, 2013 under the theme “University and Olympic sport; two models –one goal?"

The keynote speaker for the Plenary Session was Marat Bariev, PhD in Political Science, first Deputy Chairman of the Russian Federation State Duma Committee on Physical Culture, Sport and Youth Affairs. The Secretary – General of the Russian Olympic Committee spoke on the topic: Legacy of the Universiades and the Olympic Games as an opportunity for investments and development. This session was chaired by Anthony who is seem in the attached photo, and the theme is close to the focus of his doctoral studies.

Immediately after Bariev’s delivery, Anthony summarised main issues, and on the following day conclusions for day 1 were presented. The main points of the presentation were;

• the Russian Federation adheres strongly to the concept of the Olympic charter which emphasizes the joy of effort and the education value of good example and therefore resists the urge for commercialism.
• The award of the games is testimony to the recognizition of the stability of  Russian society.
• Russia uses sport as a tool to shape a generation and to identify potential Olympic athletes.

Legacy classified and tangible and intangible.

• Tangible – infrastructure development, roads airport, and historical sites. Newly acquired skills by the volunteers. Increase in the quantity and quality of sports facilities.
• Intangibles: improvement in the image of the city and enhancing civic pride of the population

Return on investment

• Russia is now better prepared to host future major international events with minimal infrastructure development.
• Increased opportunities for engaging the general population in physical activities which will allow for increased activity by the general population and ultimately identification of talented individuals to make transitions to elite sports