President of the European Olympic Committees Mr Janez Kocijancic received a visit from EUSA this week, where he was handed a prestigious EUSA Order of Merit award.

While celebrating EUSA’s 20th anniversary at the EUSA Awards Ceremony and Gala in Aveiro, Portugal in September, several special EUSA awards were received by various individuals and institutions who, through their involvement and commitment, gave significant contribution to the development and promotion of university sport in Europe in 2018.

Included in these awards were four EUSA Order of Merits, handed to the University of Coimbra as an institution, and to three individuals, namely former Rector of the University of Coimbra Mr Joao Gabriel Silva, Head of the European Commission’s Sport Unit Mr Yves Le Lostecque as well as Mr Kocijancic.



The latter two were unable to attend the ceremony in Aveiro, with Mr Le Lostecque receiving his award at the EUSA Dinner held in Ljubljana last week, while Mr Kocijancic received his award this week following a visit to the European Olympic Committees offices by EUSA Secretary General Mr Matjaz Pecovnik.



The European Olympic Committees through its President has constantly recognised the importance of university sport and EUSA activities, and offered support and cooperation from an institutional, as well as a personal level, while also paving the way to cooperation with sport governing bodies offering synergies between the organisations.

EUSA and the European Olympic Committees signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2018 which serves to strengthen the general cooperation and partnership between the two organisations; to work together in activities and projects promoting sport and physical activities in Europe while also supporting policy makers and providing know-how in the development of sport and higher education.

EUSA would again like to congratulate Mr Kocijancic and the European Olympic Committees, and thank them for their continued support, and look forward to working together in more activities and partnerships in future.