The Opening Ceremony of EUSA European Universities Orienteering Championship (EUOC) took place on 24 August 2023 in St. Gallen at the University of Applied Science (OST).

The European Universities Orienteering Championship will take place from 24 to 27 August 2023 in St. Gallen, Gais and Appenzell, which are picturesque places in Eastern Switzerland.

The Ceremony was attended by Prof. Dr. Bernhard Ehrenzeller, President of University St. Gallen, Mr Leonz Eder, Acting President of FISU, Mr Matjaz Pecovnik, EUSA Secretary General, Mr Daniel Studer, Chairman of Organizing Commitee, Mr Dusan Vystavel, EUSA Technical Delegate and Ms Cecile Busser, Representative of Swiss University Sports. 

On behalf of the Organizing Committee participants were welcomed by Prof. Dr. Bernhard Ehrenzeller and Mr Daniel Studer.

On behalf of EUSA Mr Matjaz Pecovnik welcomed all participants and wished all the teams and participants who came to test their skills and abilities well ahead of the start of the competition, while also thanking the Organising Committee for all their contributions.

The competition is organised by University of St. Gallen and Swiss University Sports with the contribution of Swiss Orienteering, OLG St. Gallen/Appenzell, OL Regio Wil, ASVZ and others. 

St. Gallen was proud host city for the 8th European Universities Tennis Championships from 5 to 10 September 2011 and also successfully hosted the European Universities Golf Championship from 15 to 19 September 2015.

EUSA is represented by Mr Matjaz Pecovnik, as SCAC Chair, the Technical Delegate Mr Dusan Vystavel and Ms Eszter Gulyas, EUSA representative. They will make sure that the event will run smoothly and without problems. The Competition will host 186 athletes and 18 officials from as many as 66 universities from 17 European countries.

The oath of athletes was taken by Mr Raphael Masliah, INSA Lyon/France and the oath of referees was taken by Ms Therese Achermann, National Controller IOF. After Prof. Dr. Bernhard Ehrenzeller solemnly declared the European Universities Orienteering Championship 2023 open.

The cultural framework programme was delivered by the musical performance of the Jodelchörli St. Gallen Ost, who delighted the participants of the Opening Ceremony with Eastern Switzerland’s art of yodelling.

The Organising Committee was working hard while preparing for the EUSA European Universities Orienteering Championship 2023 and now is very pleased that so many universities registered competitive teams.

The competition areas will show a tricky middle-terrain and nice cities for urban orienteering, too. The map makers and course setters have done an excellent job.

Exciting competition and many interested spectators cheering on the competitors are expected in Eastern Switzerland.

For more information, please see https://orienteering2023.eusa.eu/