PIUTT 2018: Tennis tournament, held at the Dubna State University (Moscow region, Russia) as part of the Panathlon International Movement, united students from different countries
The PCU International University Tennis Tournament (PIUTT) in support of the Olympic principles of “fair play” and Universal Friendship was held for the third time at the Dubna State University from 19 to 21 October 2018. This year students from Belgium, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Ukraine and United Kingdom took part in the tournament.
The PIUTT tournament is held as part of the Panathlon International Movement for the promotion and spread of culture and sporting ethics, according to the official recognition of the International Olympic Committee. The organizers of the tournament are the University of Antwerp (Belgium) and the Dubna State University (Moscow region, Russia) on the initiative of the Panathlon Club of Universities (PCU Committee).
On October 19, at the PIUTT Opening Ceremony the participants were greeted by the Dubna State University Rector Dmitry Fursaev, the Vice-rector for educational and methodical work Andrey Denikin, the Head of the Department of Physical Culture and Sports of the Dubna City Administration Gennady Minaev and by the PCU Committee President Peter Verboven. The PIUTT President, Honorary Rector of the University of Antwerp Francis baron Van Loon announced the tournament officially open and made the draw.
“Panathlon’s device and our device is “Ludis Iungit”, means “united by sport”. So, the main objective of this tournament is to offer a platform where sport – in our case tennis – is considered as a valuable instrument to develop international interaction and experience, with emphasis on fair play and university friendship” – the PIUTT President Francis Baron Van Loon said at the Opening Ceremony.
Competitions took place at the tennis court of the Dubna University Sports Complex "Olympus" from 22 to 23 October. From the very start, the tournament began with a tense set with a tie-break that lasted 1 hour and 5 minutes. Matches of the tournament were held in an exciting competitions, in the spirit of Olympism and fair play. The students showed a beautiful game, completing their attacks with volley shots and overhead smashes, played dynamically and spectacularly.
The match with the tie-break for the third place in the Men’s tournament between Dimitri Sleeckx from the University of Antwerp (Belgium) and Joshua Pollard from the Essex University (UK) turned out to be especially spectacular. There was also a very exciting game with a tie-break in the Women’s singles II group between Hannelore Peeters from the University of Antwerp (Belgium) and Olga Ivanshina from JINR (Dubna, Russia).
As in the Women's as in the Men's singles categories the students of the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation won. In Women’s tournament the number one player of the Financial University, Maria Daniels Sierra, won with a 6:0 blowout. The title of the PIUTT Men's tournament Champion was won in a fair play by Roman Kudryashov.
The tennis tournament was held at a high organizational level thanks to the coordinated work of volunteers, the referee team and the team of ball boys and girls. The team of young tennis players serving the balls to the players consisted of students of the local youth sports schools in the city of Dubna. The tournament contributed to the development of sports base of the University and promotion of tennis in the city and among the students. In particular thanks to the information support of the Administration of the city of Dubna.
Due to the increased number of applications for participation and the successful holding of the PIUTT 2018, the next year is expected to expand the tournament format and a possible change of the venue.
Students of the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia won the PCU International University Tennis Tournament 2017
From 20 to 22 October 2017 Dubna hosted the 2nd PCU International Tennis Tournament (PIUTT) – a yearly tennis tournament organized by the University of Antwerp with the assistance of the Dubna State University and endorsed by the PCU Committee to promote ethics in sport and principles of fair play and Universal friendship.
EU Sport Forum
The PCU Games ensure a free sports and events program for universities and university colleges worldwide, including a free Panathlon International membership. The main objective is to offer students a platform where sport is considered as a valuable instrument to develop international interaction and experience, with emphasis on Fair Play and Universal Friendship.
The 18th PCU Games are organized from 26 to 28 April 2017 in Antwerp (Flanders, Belgium). Men’s Futsal, Volleyball, Basketball and women’s Basketball and Volleyball are programmed. Registration is simple as explained on this website and the registration deadline is 1 March 2017.
ENRICO PRANDI TROPHY
Not only the competition winners are awarded but also the winner of the overall Fair Play ranking. The Enrico Prandi Trophy is a prestigious award, unique in the world of university sport and the highest merit a university can achieve in relation to ethics in university sport. Different from almost all other university sports events, the main objective of the PCU Games is to offer students, universities and university colleges a worldwide platform where sport is considered as a valuable instrument to develop international interaction and experience, with emphasis on Fair Play and Universal Friendship. Enrico Prandi, born on May 21, 1945 (Italy), is the Past President of Panathlon International, former member of the International Olympic Committee Cultural Commission and former President of the Italian Basketball League. He initiated in 2010 the idea to create a university platform within Panathlon International to promote ethics in sport also within the worldwide university community.
HOSTING CONCEPT
To guarantee a free program, the hosting rights of the PCU Games are granted to one single university community for a term of more years. The host is consequently ensured of the necessary return by means of publicity on a long term and is able to downsize logistic and financial requirements. The Antwerp University Association is our first partner within this new format. The Antwerp University Association is a structural cooperation of four higher education institutions in metropolitan Antwerp with about 40.000 students.
HOST ORGANIZATION
Sport, Fair Play and international interaction are considered within the Antwerp University Association as highly important for the educational development of students. Also the universal Panathlon values and the recognition of the association by the International Olympic Committee are considered as complementary with the mission of the Antwerp University Association. As a result the Antwerp University Association agreed to host the PCU Games for the next years.