ABU gets broadcast rights for international student games

The ABU has been granted the broadcasting rights to the summer and winter games of the international university sport federation FISU.

The 27th Summer Universiade will take place in Kazan, Russia, from 6-17 July 2013 and the 26th Winter Universiade will be held in Trentino, Italy, from 11-21 December 2013.

The FISU Universiades are held every two years for student-athletes aged 17-28 and are second only to the Olympic Games in terms of number of participating athletes and countries represented. In Kazan, more than 10,000 student-athletes from more than 150 countries will compete in 27 sports.

ABU Secretary-General Dr Javad Mottaghi said he was delighted the Union and its members had been granted the television rights and non-exclusive internet and mobile rights for the Summer and Winter Universiades, except for individual dealings with several Asian countries.

“FISU has granted the rights collectively for the first time to the ABU, with a high sense and trust that ABU, with its strong membership and broadcast service background, will contribute enormously for a successful coverage among its member countries,” Dr Mottaghi said.

“As a broadcaster, I have every reason to believe that the lively and long-standing youthful values presented by the Universiades will be shared by FISU and ABU, along with its members, in a long future relation and cooperation between both parties.”

FISU President, Claude-Louis Gallien said he was extremely pleased the ABU would bring the FISU flagship events to the homes of Asian student-athletes, their family and friends.

“Like FISU, which strives for excellence on campus and on the sports field, ABU brings excellence with its quality coverage and story-telling, to the Asian audiences,” he said. “I am confident that with the help of ABU, the International University Sport Movement will continue to grow in popularity on the Asian continent.”