The International Day of University Sport (IDUS), proclaimed and endorsed by the United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization (UNESCO) and the International University Sports Federation (FISU) was celebrated all around the world on September 20. In Europe, the IDUS celebrations were this year also linked to the European Week of Sport (EWOS), which takes place between September 23 and 30.

With an active hike in Ljubljana, friendly volleyball matches and celebrating of university sport at the European Universities Beach Sports Championships in Malaga, as well as with a #BeActive run in Kusadasi, on the occasion of EUSA General Assembly, the European University Sports Association (EUSA) made an extended celebration to these two initiatives engaging members of the Executive Committee, EUSA Staff and EUSA events participants, university athletes and volunteers.

The celebrations of the #LetsIdus International Day of University Sport and the #BeActive European Week of Sport were also made throughout Europe by EUSA members, universities, and students.

Here is a short insight to some of the diverse activities throughout Europe:

ALBANIA:

During the "International Day of University Sport", Albanian University Sports Federation (AUSF) organized a meeting and several activities with the students in two different locations. The first was held at the Fan S. Noli University with the President of the Student Sports Association of the "Fan Noli" University, Academic Staff, students and volunteers and also two representatives from the University Sports Federation. The second activity was held at Lalzi Bay, where a group of students took part in four sports disciplines like: beach-volleyball, beach-soccer, swimming and running.

AUSTRIA:

On the occasion of the UNESCO International Day of University Sport on September 20th, the university sports institutes and UniSport Austria have once again taken actions to raise awareness for university sport. The biggest celebration in the country was without a doubt the anniversary celebration for the 175th anniversary of university sport in Austria. Different universities celebrated IDUS and EWOS differently. University Innsbruck had an exciting campaign on recycling old, used and broken sports equipment, while University of Salzburg had a public stand on which they have presented different opportunities related to university sport to the general public such as: courses, fitness centre opportunities, health promotion.

CROATIA:

Our member, the Croatian University Sports Federation celebrated the International Day of University Sport with various events. One was with participation in the RUN4FH charity race, that happened in Maksimir Park in Zagreb, organized in cooperation with RunCroatia and UniSport Heart Foundation on September 24. Around 300 participants, mostly students, also participated in the “Running for the Heart” race on September 30th in Opatija, held with the desire to raise awareness among citizens about the importance of preserving heart health and preventing cardiovascular diseases. As part of the “Dani srca”, the race was just one activity alongside a mini-symposium on preventive, sports and rehabilitation medicine and an emphasis on cardiometabolism, obesity and physical activity. On this occasion, a new Education Center opened at the Department of Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Rijeka.

CZECHIA:

Our members from the Czech University Sports Association marked the International Day of University Sport and European Week of Sport via social media, by creating a video campaign with their successful athletes to motivate other students and greater public to do the sport, do the sport activities, to move, and to be active.

ESTONIA:

For the International Day of Student Sports on September 20th, the Estonian Academic Sports Association, in cooperation with the Academic Sports Club of the University of Tartu, organized the popular event miniYliPalli. They arranged various competitions, including blind volleyball, 3x3 basketball, spikeball, and midrange-throw. Besides this, a few other universities and university institutions organized and implemented various activities, such as: Estonian Academy of Security Sciences – organized an active program of the sports day including 22 sports, lectures or training, with the total number of participants around 350. Tartu Health Care college with over 100 students organized a landscape game, including competitions between 10-member teams in 10 different areas. 

FINLAND:

Finnish Student Sports Federation organized University on the Move Day in Helsinki, that saw participants from many finish universities, as well as keynote speakers from important areas related to sports. The participants visited MetroSport, the biggest student sport event in Finland, at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium. Besides this, a social media campaign was also implemented, in cooperation with university sport services and student organisation, as well as #beactive campaign. In this campaign, there we various articles published, on the topic of maintaining the wellbeing and ability to study and the routines for physical activity already formed during the years of study.  As addition to this, there has been an #BeActive themed challenge during the European Week of Sport, where various challenges were proposed, having encouraging effect to increase physical activities among students. The goal was to promote sports in higher education environments and reduce the daily amount of sitting and other sedentary behaviours.

GERMANY:

A total of 1,650 students from 91 universities took part in the fourth nationwide university run organized by the German university sports federation. On the occasion of the International Day of University Sports (IDUS) on 20th September they collected numerous kilometres and meters of altitude for themselves and their universities. In total, all participants in the fourth ADH university run collected incredible 14.239,01 kilometers and 124.744 meters in altitude, a distance equivalent to the route from Berlin to Cape Town. For the third time in a row, the number of participants in the ADH university run increased, which speaks for the importance of the event in university sports.

HUNGARY:

At the invitation of MEFS, many member institutions and universities used the opportunity to join the International Day of University Sports and European Week of Sport, so on September 20 and in the surrounding period, by organizing university sports days. Many Sports days from many Hungarian universities were realised including different sport competitions and activities, such as: football, 3×3 streetball, tennis, beach volleyball, badminton, squash, ricochet table tennis, beach volleyball, futsal, archery and other guided training sessions, such as: yoga, spinning, aerobics, fencing, spine training, TRX, decathlon free games, laser tag, ergometer rowing, badminton, bubble soccer and tennis.

For university of Miskolc, the celebration of IDUS and EWOS was in the spirit of the YEAR of SPORT and the main upcoming event, the European Universities Games 2024 in Debrecen and Miskolc. On this occasion a so called EEJ fairground was created, where a bean bag chill zone, photo corner and temporary tattoos could be made, social challenges and prize games, basket throwing, table tennis, Teqvolley, inflatable games awaited those interested, the most important stop of which was the Info tent and the EUSA exhibition.

IRELAND:

Student Sport Ireland launched their “Find your team” campaign on international day of university sport for its third year running. The campaign has a vision of encouraging students to take part in sport, join sport clubs and try new things. The campaign was brought to life by a group of students in 2021 who wanted to share the positive impact of club sport on their university experience, bringing them friends, encouraging them to keep fit and allowing them to have some time away from studies.   The campaign launch has involved new branding across their social media page, new merchandise and a new campaign video in order to encourage the new students arriving this new academic year.

KOSOVO:

The Federation of University Sports in Kosovo celebrated International Day of University Sport by organizing games in three sports: BeachVolley Mix, Men’s Basketball 3x3, and Ping-Pong. During the celebration, the President of FSUNK, Mr Gani Ibrahimi, and the dean of the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports in UP, Mr Musa Selimi, were present to thank the students for the vitality they give to the university and wish them success in the competition. The competitions were played on the UP campus.

LATVIA:

At the occasion of the International Day of University Sport as well as European Week of Sports, the Latvian University Sports Federation organized basketball tournament for Latvian University basketball teams, both – men and women. The event was held from September 22-23th, with 200 participants, where each team had the chance to play with each and to qualify for the finals and medals. The competition was great, celebrated with many spectators, with many teams enjoying 2 days full of basketball.

PORTUGAL:

FADU Portugal University Sports celebrated the International University Sports Day with an inclusive event with more than 50 participants, including several FADU clubs and entities. The event had different activities such as adapted sailing, wheelchair basketball, boccia and goalball activities and it was held in Aveiro, Portugal on September 25^th. The celebrations of the International University Sports Day will be complete when the painting of a mural at FADU headquarters is finished. The aim of this mural is to promote university sports and inclusive sports. This final piece of the commemorations will be inaugurated soon in Avenida de Santa Joana, in Aveiro, Portugal.

SPAIN:

Spain hosted the events of the European University Week of Sport in the City of Arts and Sciences of Valencia and promoted the event with the hashtag #BeActive. President of the higher sports council, Mr Victor Francos, officiated the event and expressed the objective of European Sports Week to raise awareness of physical and healthy activity and nutrition. The inauguration included sports activities throughout the morning at the BeActive Village, in the old bed of the Turia River, such as the Ploggin race, which combines sports circuits for all ages with environmental conservation, and continued with a Fit Kid exhibition, a sport that combines dance with exercises gymnastics and acrobatics.

SWEDEN:

The aim of the Swedish Swedish University Sports Federation, was to practice what they preach within university sports and attract participants to activities such as Spikeball and Padel. In that sense they established "The University Sports Project". Within this framework, university sports associations were given the opportunity to be present with one or more representatives to inform participating students about their activities. The success attracted nearly 50 participants, including a significant number of international students, motivates us to try again next year. "Once is not enough. Twice is a tradition." We continue to believe that The day of University Sports should be a day where we invite students to participate in one or more enjoyable and accessible activities. We also believe it's an excellent format and a golden opportunity for university sports associations to be present and share information about their activities.

SWITZERLAND:

Our members in Switzerland, through students and employees of the University of Bern and the Pedagogical University of Bern, celebrated IDUS and EWOS, with organized and participated in a wide range of sports outside and inside, in which you could participate without pre-registration, organized in three blocks with shows in between. These events saw more than 300 participants from 2 universities. 

UKRAINE:

Many colleges across Ukraine hosted events on International day of Student sports with around 300 Universities and 40000 participants taking part. These events involved competitions, demonstration performances of students, presentation of various types of sports, awards of prizes and medals in different venues across Ukraine.

UNITED KINGDOM:

The British Universities and Colleges Sport launched a new initiative called “The Fittest” on the occasion of the International Day of University Sport (IDUS). This is a competition which in its inaugural year will feature 25 Universities from the UK in a fitness competition which is unique in that it levels the playing field by removing the barriers of age, height, weight and gender. Students will compete across a range of exercises leading up to an in-person finals event in May 2024 to crown “The Fittest” students in the UK. It will also be used to get more students active through fitness based activities on campus’ across the UK at a grassroots level.

More information about the campaigns:
- International Day of University Sport: https://www.fisu.net/fisu/about-fisu/international-day-of-university-sport
- European Week of Sport: https://sport.ec.europa.eu/european-week-of-sport
- Healthy Lifestyle for All: https://sport.ec.europa.eu/healthylifestyle4all