Universiade recognizes FESSAP

MANILA, Philippines - The general assembly of the International Federation of Schools and Universities (FISU) Friday closed the door on the University Athletic Association of the Philippines-National University Games, which is seeking membership in the international federation in place of active Philippine member, the  Federation of School Sports Associations of the Philippines (FESSAP).

Reports from the Kazan, Russia where the FISU held its general assembly and will stage the biennial Universiade starting today, showed the UAAP-NUG, which had the support of the Commission on Higher Education and the Philippine Olympic Committee, was to announce its application for membership  during the general assembly.

After a stormy speech by FESSAP legal counsel Ma. Luz Arzaga-Mendoza, a former national swimmer, the general assembly saw no point in having an outsider gaining membership in the international body at the expense of an existing member which obtained regular status in 2009.

The FISU, which has staged the University Games or Universiade the last 44 years,  is composed of 163 member countries with the FESSAP as its country member. Its worldwide rival organization is the International Olympic Committee, which holds the quadrennial Olympic Games, with the POC as its country member.

Arzaga-Mendoza, a prominent human rights and election lawyer, was among a handful of private practitioners  considered for the vacant post of associate justice of the Supreme Court. She declined the invitation to concentrate on private practice and her advocacies.