So far, our approach has been guided by health and safety. This principle will not change. FISU moved quickly to cancel events well into the summer. 

Since then, we have used our social media reach to encourage the university athlete population to remain active. 

University campuses are busy, social places. With students off campus, and uncertain as to when they will return, they have joined so many others in looking for new ways to usefully occupy themselves. 

FISU's involvement in university sport has traditionally been linked to the elite competitions we remain best known for: the World University Games and the World University Championships. 

But, as part of an innovative and ambitious strategic plan formally adopted in 2017, we established a clear goal to extend our activities to the wider student community. Society is changing and we need to change with it.

If we do not, there is something of an existential threat to widespread adult participation in sport. In many parts of the world, large proportions of the adult population lead a sedentary lifestyle. 

Parents that do not regularly practice sport and who do not value that practice themselves are less inclined to encourage regular participation from their children.

Added to this, we see that the role of physical education has been massively diminished by so many national systems. An emphasis on ranking academic achievement has had the unfortunate effect of pushing physical education to the margins of curriculums. 

Until relatively recently, we had a situation where most 18-year-olds regularly practiced sport and at university level it was a question of maintaining and developing that interest. Now, however, we face the even greater challenge on establishing a foundation of participation.

University study so often corresponds to the time in a young person's life when they leave the family home and establish habits that can last a lifetime. Wherever possible, FISU is determined to make sure they are healthy habits and that the regular practice of sport is one of them.

For this reason, I am very proud that we are rolling out our Healthy Campus programme to all universities today. This follows extensive, successful and very useful pilot implementations on seven campuses. 

Making extensive use of mobile technology, the programme will help universities ensure students remain active even off campus. This will, in turn, ensure students are more readily able to restart university life once the campuses reopen. 

The Healthy Campus takes a holistic approach, too. So, the platform is packed with tips on nutrition, sleep and mental health. While the Healthy Campus project has been years in the making, other developments in FISU's work will have been informed by the pandemic. 

It is already apparent, however, that some things we took to be normal before the pandemic will no longer be part of the new normal. Things will not be the same as they were. For example, the extent to which online working can be effective has been noticed by leaders everywhere.

FISU will be counted among the international sports organisations that will continue to back up a commitment to sustainability by reducing travel in favour of online presentations and meetings. Already, we have had online presentations of progress from future hosts of our competitions. 

The past weeks have reminded us of the importance of fairness, of collective effort and the fact that results depend on effort. These are lessons that are automatically taught by sport, alongside social interaction and so many others. 

Let us work together to ensure that sport and physical activity teach these lessons well into the future, ensuring a resilient and cohesive society, for all of our sakes.