In a solemn Opening Ceremony held on July 31 at Bojan Stranić Hall in Croatia’s capital Zagreb, the very first edition of the EUSA Combat Championships involving four different sports was officially opened.

From July 31 to August 3, 1300 participants from 404 different universities and 36 countries will take part in the biggest European Universities Championship this summer, which comprises of four sports: Judo, Karate, Kickboxing and Taekwondo.

“Zagreb is the unique city on the map of the universities sports,” EUA President Mr Adam Roczek said in his opening address. “It was the host for two great and very important events – the Universiade in 1987 and European University Games in 2016. I want to thank all the organisers for their commitment and their work, as same as all others that helped in preparing this big event. To the students, I wish that all their dreams come true in Zagreb.”



All athletes, volunteers and team officials attended the Opening Ceremony, filling the Bojan Stranić Hall to capacity. Also in attendance was Mr Antonio Espinosa, the President of World karate Federation (WKF) and Mr Roy Baker, President of the World Association of Kickboxing Organisations (WAKO).



Ms Olivera Majić, Deputy Mayor of the City of Zagreb, declared the Championship officially open, before revealing her satisfaction that young students from Europe have the opportunity to compete in Zagreb. “I wish to all of them fair fights and warm hospitality – don’t worry, the citizens of Zagreb will also show it,” she said. 

The Ceremony continued with a rendition of the international student's anthem “Gaudeamus Igitur” and the raising the EUSA flag, before the athletes’ and referees’ oaths were read.

“This is the greatest universities sport event by numbers this year in Europe,” said the president of Croatian Academic Sports Association (HASS), Mr Zrinko Čustonja. “I hope that all of you will enjoy the competitions in the city of Zagreb and maybe you will return one day as friends.”

Fights across all four Combat sports are scheduled to take place in four Sports Halls in Zagreb. Dom Sportova 1 will be home for Kickboxing; Dom Sportova 2 is prepared for Judo; Taekwondo will be in Sports Hall Trešnjevka and Karate is close to the student dormitory in Volleyball Home “Bojan Stranić”.



All entrance to the arenas is free of charge, while all the fights are available on live stream HERE.

All schedules and results are available at results.eusa.eu, while more information about the event can be found at combatsports2019.eusa.eu.