The days in Lodz are becoming busier and even fuller with excitement and festive spirit. Today, on 14th of July, the first teams started to arrive, ready to compete on the European Universities Games 2022. 

The European Universities Games in Lodz will bring together athletes and officials from all around Europe and the event will combine sports, education, culture and socialising, promoting the values of university sport in all fields. Among the first teams to arrive on the campus and get through the accreditation process were teams and athletes from Ukraine. Shortly after, teams and athleets from Serbia, Türkiye, Lithuania, Germany, Portugal, Great Britain, Croatia, Slovakia and Poland, joined them on the campus of Lodz University of Technology. Many more are expected to arrive until the end of the day and during the following week.

The atmosphere among the arrived teams and athletes today was great, full with excitement and good energy. They had the chance to rest, play some sports, get to know the campus area while waiting the details of their accommodation and to get ready for the challenges they will face in the following days. Participants received a welcome bag with the most relevant information and accreditation, which will be used as the main means of identification during the entire event.

Our media team visited the arrival area and was able to meet some of the freshly arrived participants and to conduct short interviews. We had the chance to talk to athletes that arrived to compete for the first time at the games:
“First time that our university comes to the European Universtities Games. In Türkiye we had good result and we are also expecting good results on these competitions.” said Atay Kurban, an athlete competing in water polo.

Natalija Ristić, competing in women’s volleyball team from University of Belgrade said: “It is our first time at European Universities Games, we expect good and fair competition and we came to win.”

We also had the chance to meet athletes that have a history of participation on the European University Games:
Katrine from the German Futsal women team said: " My first time competing on European Universities Games was in 2014 in Rotterdam, now its is my 4th time participating, it is my highlight of the year. We expect surprises, and we hope to play as good as possible.”
We also met the confident ones that have a strong strive to go for the win like David from Slovakia. He said: "I will compete in kickboxing, it is my first time at European University Games and my expectation are really high, I am looking forward to this competition and to have a nice time."

Michelle, volunteer from Warsaw said: "It is my first time at the games but not the first time volunteering in sports, I have been a volunteer for the national football team. Today I am working on distributing the bags and tommorow I will transfer on accomodation and transport. I am looking forward to have this experience and to enjoy my time at the European Universities Games". 

Today’s arrivals are a great sign of what we can expect in the following days of the Games, fun, sports, competition spirit, striving for the win and having the best time. 

For more information, please see www.eug2022.eu