by sportswriter Yao Youming

SHANGLUO, China, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- International School Sport Federation (ISF) president Zeljko Tanaskovic says the organization aims to ensure children across the world have the right to participate in sports activities.

The ISF chief made the remarks in an interview with Xinhua during the ISF U15 World School Volleyball Championship in Shangluo, northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

Shangluo hosted the FIVB Beach Volleyball U19 World Championships in 2024, and the women's volleyball preliminaries of China's 15th National Games in March 2025.

"Here in Shangluo we have a plan for four years. That means that in the upcoming four years there will be volleyball events every year for different ages," Tanaskovic said. "The local organizing committee is professional and efficient, the facilities are very good. The natural scenery and culture make Shangluo a great place for international youth exchange."

The ISF moved its headquarters last year from Brussels to Lausanne, where the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is also headquartered. Discussing the changes, Tanaskovic said that the ISF looks forward to playing a stronger role in school sports worldwide, together with the Olympic family.

"Being in Lausanne, we will be close to the IOC and the international federations. Until now, we have signed around 20 memorandums of understanding with international federations. What's more, we can learn from other federations in the way of governing modern sport and events," said Tanaskovic, who was elected ISF president in 2025.

In Shangluo, besides the competitions, young players from 17 countries and regions are also taking part in educational and cultural activities.

"We have workshops in safeguarding, anti-doping, respect and fair play. We give the message to young people that they have to choose sport [for a] healthy life. We give the opportunity for children to make new friends and also to learn something about international cultures," Tanaskovic noted.

"Our events not only create champions, we are creating the future leadership. Sport and study support each other, they are not fighting each other. Students who do sport learn time management and planning, which helps in their future lives."

To ensure inclusiveness and a balanced development in school sports worldwide, the ISF worked with ministries of education and sport to support school programs, and also offers financial help, tools and guidance to members short of resources.

For persons with disabilities, their rights of participating in sporting activities are also guaranteed under the ISF events system.

"We had four para sports in the Gymnasiade in Bahrain 2024, and three para events in the U15 Gymnasiade in Zlatibor 2025. The inclusion also happens in organization - many ISF events welcome volunteers with disabilities," Tanaskovic noted.

"In the future, we will give a very serious [attention to para school sports] because we want to make all children enjoy themselves and be satisfied," he concluded. Enditem