It is only 10 days before the start of the European Universities Games (EUG2016), which will take place in Zagreb and in Rijeka from July 12 to 25, and we share exciting news with you regarding the expected participation and TV coverage.

Organising Committee recently organised a press conference where they presented the highlights of the event. Over 5.700 participants will come to Zagreb and Rijeka, arriving from more than 400 universities in 41 countries. Largest delegations will come from the host country Croatia with almost 900 participants, followed by United Kingdom and Germany with over 400 participants each, France and Portugal with over 300, and Turkey, Spain and Slovenia with over 200. “We are especially happy that competitors from countries such as Iceland, Israel and Malta will visit Croatia because of this event,” notes Mrs Danira Bilic, EUG2016 Sports Committee President.



The European Universities Games will be held on more than 40 sites in Zagreb and Rijeka. “We will award more than 2000 medals, around 130 trophies for the best, and 120 special prizes. This is just one part of the impressive numbers that show what kind of event this is, one that has been in the making for years. Thanks to the organization, which currently numbers several thousand people, and among them 2000 volunteers, we can now say that we have done everything to make sure the Games run according to plan,” said Mr Zrinko Custonja, the President of the EUG 2016 Organising Committee and the Croatian Academic Sports Federation (CASF).



The volunteers are a particularly positive story of the Games. Along with the Croatians, 200 international volunteers from Europe and also from other parts of the world — even from the faraway Japan, Australia and Mexico — will make their contribution to the successful implementation of the Games. The international volunteer programme is a result of the cooperation of EUSA and the local organising committee.



Basic sports in which students will compete are badminton, basketball, football, futsal, handball, table tennis, tennis and volleyball. Additional sports include basketball 3x3, beach volleyball, bridge, chess, golf, rowing, rugby 7, sport climbing and martial arts judo, karate and taekwondo. Demonstrative sports include swimming and water polo. For the first time, competitions will be held for persons with impairments and disabilities, namely in table tennis and swimming. The Games also encompass a special international Rector’s Conference, as well as other educational, cultural and social activities.



Croatian Radio-Television (HRT) will broadcast the opening and closing ceremonies of the European Universities Games, provide live broadcasts of some sports competitions and run special daily shows. International coverage will be available with a possibility of acquiring TV signal through Eurovision, a special news service by Reuters and cooperation with the Sports Journalist Association AIPS EUROPE - European Union of Sports Press. If you are a member of the press and media, please register online in time, to get your accrediation.

Those who will not be able to support the athletes at sports venues in person, will be able to watch live broadcasts of sports competitions, special shows, and highlights of all events daily on Channels Two and Four of Croatian National Television (HRT - HTV 2 & HTV 4). Some events will additionally be aired on the Croatian Sport Television (SPTV) and as livestreams on the official EUG2016 Youtube channel.

For more information, please see www.eug2016.com.