The Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines, the national university sports federation recognized by the International University Sports Federation, has confirmed its participation in the 30th Winter Universiade to be held in Lucerne, Switzerland from December 11-21.
The FESSAP Board of Trustees, led by its president Edwin C. Fabro, a prominent businessman-sports patron, has approved the resolution that calls for the Philippines’ participation in the Winter Universiade for a second time.
Two student-athletes were chosen by the FESSAP Winter Ski & Skating Committee to represent the country. They are Filipino-German cross-country skier Amadeo Kaus, a student at the University of Cologne in Germany, and figure skater Skye Frances Patenia of De La Salle University in Manila.
Kaus, an advocate of climate justice, will compete in his favorite event that will be staged in Andermatt in the Swiss Alps.
Patenia is an active member of the Philippine national team in figure skating, having participated in various competitions overseas under the auspices of the Philippine Skating Union. She will compete in the City of Lucerne, the main venue of this year’s Winter University Games.
Close to 1,600 university athletes between ages 17 and 25 are expected to see action in the Winter Universiade. The athletes will be coming from more than 540 universities and colleges in 50 countries.
The games, a joint project of the six cantons of Central Switzerland – Uri, Schwyz, Obwalden, Nidwalden, Zug, and the City of Lucerne, will be comprised of 10 events to be contested at eight venues.
In 2019, figure skater Misha Fabian of Ateneo de Manila University became the first Filipino student-athlete ever to compete in the Winter Universiade held in Krasnoyarsk, Russia. Fabian is set to compete once more in the 31st Winter Universiade to be held in Lake Placid, New York City in January 2023.
The FESSAP Board has designated businessman-Philanthropist Antonio L. Tiu, the FESSAP Honorary President, as the country’s Head of Delegation, along with FESSAP Vice President and Technological University of the Philippines president Dr. Jesus Rodrigo Torres as Honorary Head of Delegation.
Both Antonio Tiu and Dr. Torres will be assisted by the FESSAP Winter Ski & Skating Committee Chair Dodjie Fabian and Co-Chair Prof. Robert Milton Calo, who is the FESSAP Executive Vice President, as Delegation Officials, and PSU’s Pom Domdom as coach.
Other Committee members of FWSSC are Cecilia Sarmiento, Sharon Fabian, and Antonio Quiza, the Secretary-General of the National Orienteering of the Philippines.
Edwin C. Fabro and Alvin Tai Lian, the FESSAP Chairman of the Board, are thankful for the hard work that members of the FWSSC in nominating two student-athletes that qualified to see action in the 30th Winter Universiade in Switzerland. The winter multi-sports event is the largest in the world for university athletes, second only to the regular Winter Olympics. It is held every two years.
The FESSAP also extends its appreciation to Jiho Kim, the FISU Games Winter Event Manager, for providing the organization with constant information changes and new regulations, particularly regarding the travel guide and insurances for health and travel protection.
The Universiades (Summer & Winter) have been held every two years since 1959 under the auspices of the FISU in cooperation with its NUSF members from all over the world. The Philippines’ FESSAP is the official regular member of the FISU and is responsible for the selection of Philippine athletes to both the Winter and Summer Universiades.
Tokyo Olympics’ pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena and Chess player Grandmaster Wesley So are both products of the Summer Universiade. So won a Universiade gold medal during the 2013 Kazan (Russia) World University Games, while Obiena clinched the title in the 2019 Napoli (Italy) World University Games.
