The Pacific nation of French Polynesia became the newest member of FISU Oceania on 26 April 2024. Formally ratified by the FISU Oceania Executive Committee, the Union du Sport Universitaire Polynesien was welcomed as an Associate Member of FISU Oceania.
“We are delighted to welcome our friends from French Polynesia to the FISU Oceania network”, said Mr David Schmude, President of FISU Oceania.
“It is our mission (at FISU Oceania) to provide opportunities for university students from across the Pacific and we are pleased that we can now include students from the two universities in French Polynesia in our programs and activities. Development of university sport across our smaller nations is important to our Federation and we look forward to working with the team at Union du Sport Universitaire Polynesien to advance university sport opportunities both on and off the islands”, concludes Mr Schmude.
The Union du Sport Universitaire Polynesien (USUP) was established in 2022 with the aim of promoting and supporting the development of university sport in French Polynesia. The island nation has two universities: The University of French Polynesia and Institut Supérieur d’Enseignement Privé de Polynésie (ISEPP)
“It is an exciting time for our Federation to be the newest member of FISU Oceania”, says Mr Benjamin Grosjean, President of USUP. “We are looking forward to participating in events and being more active in university sport within the Oceania region. Our students embrace sport and with our island nation hosting the Paris 2024 Olympic Surfing program, we expect excitement and engagement in sport to increase within our university student community”.
FISU Oceania has 13 member nations including:
Full members: Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Marshall Islands, New Zealand, Northern Mariana Islands, Papua New Guinea, Samoa.
Associate members: American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, French Polynesia, Guam, New Caledonia.
For more information about USUP visit their Facebook page.
For more information about university sport in the Oceania region, contact FISU Oceania.
