The journey of the European Universities Games – EUGames 2014 has come to an end. Between July 24 and August 8, Rotterdam hosted a unbelievable number of 2830 participants from 280 university teams, representing 174 universities from 34 countries in Europe.

The Games included a wide range of competitions in 10 different  sports – badminton, basketball, football, futsal, handball, rowing, rugby 7's, table tennis, tennis and volleyball – and also combined educational, cultural and social events.

The last day of the event on Friday, August 8, was focused on the finals in badminton, football, volleyball and basketball which provided some excellent performances. 

It started well with the finals in badminton doubles (men, women and mixed), followed by the finals in singles, held at the Erasmus sport facilities. The champions are: Cemre Fere & Neslihan Kilic, Uludag University (TUR) in women's, Jordan Corvee & William Goudaullier, University Bordeaux (FRA) in men's and Vitaliy Konov & Yelyzaveta Zharka from National Technical University Kharkov Polytechnical Institute (UKR) in mixed doubles. In singles, Neslihan Yigit from Uludag University (TUR) is the champion in women's category, and Alexander Roovers from the University of Duisburg-Essen (GER) in men's.

The fantastic setting of the Toepad Kralingen football pitches hosted the women’s football and the University of Valencia (ESP) proved to be the best female team, winning the final match against Utrecht University (NED) 2:1. Third place was won by the Moscow State University of Mechanical Engineering (RUS).


 

In men’s football, the final matches were played at the Excelsior-Woudestein stadium where  over 400 enthusiastic and vocal spectators followed the matches.



The best male team, Kuban State University (RUS), showed their supremacy on the field  at the final match, winning 3:0 against the University of Almeria (ESP). Bronze medal went to the University of Montpellier 1 (FRA).

Topsport center Rotterdam, adjacent to the home of the famous De Kuip Feyenoord Stadium, was the home of the final competitions in volleyball and basketball.



In Volleyball, the number of 5 set matches showed the quality of the teams and the calibre of student sport. Supported by the great conditions and excellent surroundings, the teams had been able to produce their best performance during the 6 days of competitions.



In men’s category, the Technical University of Munich (GER) won the champions' title, winning 3:0 against the AGH University of Science and Technology Krakow (POL). University of Lausanne (SUI) was the bronze-medal winner.

In the women's volleyball competitions, the title of the championship went to the Bahcesehir University (TUR), winning 3:1 against the University of Belgrade (SRB). Third place went to the University of Lausanne (SUI).

The basketball tournaments of Women and Men at this year’s EUSA Games both had 12 teams participating. The competition and play level was really impressive and  in the preliminary round we saw some surprises and break-through of some of the new university teams participating.

In the women’s competition, the title of the best team went to the University of Strasbourg (FRA), winning the very exciting and tight final match against the University of Geneva (SUI); final result 62:61. The bronze went to the University of Bochum (GER).

In men’s basketball, Mykolas Romeris University (LTU) won the title of the champions, winning in a gripping title match 86:74 against their opponents Fatih University (TUR), with the University of Nis (SRB) finishing in third place.

After the basketball finals which attracted over 1000 specators, a short closing ceremony concluded the event. The Closing started with a march-pass of volunteers, representing university teams from the 34 participating countries. A dancing act accompanied the video highlights from the event. On behalf of the Organising Committee Mr Daniel Sikkens, Chairman of the board recalled the fantastic achievements and milestones of the Games. 


 

The President of the European University Sports Association Mr Adam Roczek thanked the Organisers, all participants and he especially thanked the volunteers, referees and EUSA family members for their great contribution towards the success of the event. EUSA flag and Gaudeamus Igitur anthem being played marked the official end of the event, with the President of the Erasmus University Rotterdam Mrs Pauline van der Meer Mohr officially closing the EUGames 2014.

EUSA flag was passed from the organisers of the European Universities Games 2014 represented by Mr Sikkens, to the President of EUSA Mr Roczek, who then passed it to the host of the European Universities Games Zagreb-Rijeka 2016, represented by Mr Toni Gamulin and Ms Jelena Matesic.



 

The Games showed the ever increasing level of student players at European universities of both genders. Based on dedicated programs obvious more and more players are able to combine their sport with an academic education. Since the Games combined different sports which were organized at the same time, students could support each other in the competitions, giving a great atmosphere to all sports and giving students a once in a life time experience. 

European Universities Games were held under the auspices of the European University Sports Association (EUSA), supported by the City of Rotterdam, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Erasmus TopSport, and other partners, and were co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union. Support of the Games was given also by the International University Sports Federation (FISU).

We thank all those that participated and had any involvement in Games. We hope to see you at future EUSA sporting events - European Universities Championships in 2015 and European Universities Games Zagreb-Rijeka 2016!

More details on the official website of the event www.eugames2014.eu and on the EUGames 2014 Facebook page www.fb.com/eugames2014.