The European Universities Games 2014 are in full swing after yesterday’s official grand Opening Ceremony. Competitions in futsal, handball, table tennis and tennis are gathering students from all around Europe on and off the pitch, with athletes in other sports arriving shortly.
 

Apart of the sports programme, the Organising Committee in cooperation with the European University Sports Association (EUSA) and partner organisations are preparing an interesting cultural, educational and social events and activities.

Today, the first of the several masterclasses – workshops was held, focusing on the topic of gender equality in sports. The event was moderated by Mrs Dianne Bevelander, Associate Dean, MBA Programs at the Rotterdam School of Management at the Erasmus University, with guests and panellists Ms Fatima Moreira de Melo, former athlete, Olympian medallists, media personality and successful business-woman; Mr Aitor Canibe Sanchez, member of the EUSA Executive Committee and representative of the Sports Council (CSD) within the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport; Ms Heidi Pekkola, Sports Policy Director at the European Non-Governmental Sports Organisation (ENGSO) and Mr Jacco van Sterkenburg, Professor in the Department of Media & Communication at the Erasmus University.

They presented their perspectives and experiences with gender equality in sport, opening the discussion by involving the audience. The importance of the topic was stressed and the need for further discussion and activities in order to improve visibility, representation and perception of gender equality, with a special focus on sport. Tomorrow, the topic of the masterclasses will be the disability in sport several and other interesting topics will be discussed within the next days as well.

Representatives of the national university sports association and invited guests and partners were also invited to a special reception held by the Erasmus University Rotterdam. On behalf of the Erasmus University, they were welcomed by Mr Bart Straatman, the Vice-President of the Board who also presented the University, stressing the centennial anniversary of the institution and introducing the plans for the future.


 

On behalf of EUSA, the President of the association Mr Adam Roczek thanked Mr Straatman for the hospitality and commended the involvement of the university in the EUGames and pointed out that having the event in the heart of the student campus has a special value.

On behalf of EACEA, the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency of the European Union, the participants were addressed by Mr Luciano Di Fonzo who stressed his satisfaction about the Games, being the first event to be funded and supported by the EU within the new sports chapter of the Erasmus+ programme.

Also the Rector of the University of Rijeka Mr Pero Lucin addressed the audience, as the representative of the next Organisers of the event in Zagreb-Rijeka in 2016. On behalf of the International University Sports Federation (FISU) its Vice-President Mr Leonz Eder thanked the hosts, organisers and EUSA for their active contribution to the development of university sport.

At this opportunity EUSA President Mr Roczek and Honorary President Mr Alberto Gualtieri handed a special EUSA gift to Erasmus University Rotterdam as the hosting academic institution and the Students Sports Association the Netherlands (SSN).



The day conluded with a special reception and promotional dinner by the hosts of the 3rd European Universities Games Zagreb-Rijeka 2016, introducing the concept of the next edition of this largest European multi-sport university sport event.

The European Universities Games Rotterdam - EUGames 2014 will continue until August 8, with plenty of sports, education, culture and fun to come. Please follow EUSA and EUGames2014 also on social media to keep track and join us!