On a hot Mediterranean evening, the Opening Ceremony of the European Universities Championships in Beach Volleyball and Water Polo took place on July 21 in Koper, Slovenia.

EUSA Executive Committee member Mr Ceslovas Garbaliauskas welcomed all participants and wished all the teams and participants well, while also thanking the Organising Committee for all their contributions.



Ms Jasna Softić, the vice mayor of the city of Koper in her speech expressed the fact that Koper is a city which really lives hand in hand with sport. Ms Mojca Kleva Kekuš expressed greetings from the local University of Primorska, while on behalf of the Organising Committee participants were welcomed by the President of the Slovenian Universities Sports Association (SUSA) Mr Patrik Peroša.

The traditional march pass by participants was conducted around the pool that will be utilised for the Water Polo Championships, before a superb show by two local synchronised swimmers entertained the crowd.



The EUSA flag was then raised as the university anthem was played, before the Championship as officially declared open.

Both competitions are organised by SUSA and the University Sports Association of Primorska (UŠZP) with the contribution of the City of Koper Municipality, sponsors and volunteers. The same organisers have already hosted five European or World Universities Championships in Basketball, Futsal, and Beach Volleyball. 



EUC Beach Volleyball will run from July 21-26, while EUC Water Polo runs from July 21-27.

EUSA is represented by Executive Committee members Mr Ceslovas Garbaliauskas and Mr Bruno Barracosa, Technical Delegates Mr Adriano Paco and Mr Attila Marosvari as well as EUSA Office staff Mr Andrej Pisl and Mr Fabio De Dominicis.

The competition will be attended by 24 female and 23 male teams for Beach Volleyball and five male teams for Water Polo, with athletes, coaches and referees coming from 23 countries.

A special reception was held on Monday, July 22 with the Mayor of the City of Koper Mr Ales Brzan, Vice-Mayor Mr Patrik Perosa, representative of the University of Primorska Mr Bostan Lesnik. EUSA was represented at the meeting by EUSA Executive Committee members Mr Ceslovas Garbaliauskas and Mr Bruno Barracosa, Water Polo Technical Delegate Mr Attila Marosvari and staff members Mr Andrej Pisl and Mr Fabio De Dominicis.



All information about the Championships can be found at koper2019.eusa.eu, while all results are available HERE.