The EUSA Evaluation Commission for European Universities Games (EUG) 2020 visited the candidate city Belgrade (SRB) from March  17-19, 2016. During the first day of the visit, Mr Adam Roczek, EUSA President, Mrs Ivana Ertlova, EC Member and Mr Matjaz Pecovnik, Secretary General first met with the representatives of the Bidding Committee for presentation of the candidature highlights given by Mr Sinisa Jasnic, President of University Sports Federation of Serbia (USSS) and Mr Srdjan Boskovic, EUG Project Manager. The meeting took place in crown Plaza Hotel, foreseen as headquarters and EUSA official hotel during the Games.



In the afternoon, the EUSA representatives first visited the Belgrade Arena, a universal hall for both sport and cultural events. With a total space that covers 48,000 square metres and a capacity of 25,000 and located in the near vicinity of Student campus, this venue is planned for the EUG opening ceremony.



EUSA delegation after paid a visit to University of Belgrade, where they met with Rector, Mr Vladimir Bumbaširević and Vice-Rector, Mrs Ivanka Popovic, who both supported the bid and stressed the importance and legacy of hosting of the games for universities and student population in Serbia.



On the next day, EUSA representatives met also with Mr Predrag Perunicic, State Secretary for Sport at Ministry of Youth and Sport of the Republic of Serbia who confirmed the support of the ministry to the organisation of the event. A meeting with the local and national media was organized after.



Mr Andreja Mladenovic, Deputy Mayor of Belgrade also welcomed the delegation of EUSA to assure the active involvement of the capital city of Serbia in the organisation of the games.



In the afternoon, EUSA was received at the Olympic Committee of Serbia by Mr Djordje Visacki, Secretary General. Mr Visacki remembered that Belgrade among other mayor events hosted also the 2007 European Youth Summer Olympic Festival (EYOF) as well as Summer Universiade in 2009 and expressed his confidence in successful organization of EUSA Games in Serbia in 2020.



After meetings with officials, EUSA Evaluation Commission visited also the Student Campus with over 5000 beds to be used as accommodation and catering facilities for the games as well as other sport facilities in Belgrade, such as football stadiums Red Star, Partizan and Zemun together with several other sport halls and sport centres to be used for sports on the games' program.



The last sports venue on the list was Tennis Centre Novak, after which the conclusion meeting was organised to sum-up the evaluation visit. The decision on the organizer of the European Universities Games 2020 will be made during EUSA General Assembly on April 9, 2016 in Wroclaw (POL). The second candidate city is Tampere (FIN).

[Photos by: M. Rasic]