Executive Committee members of the European University Sports Association (EUSA), key office members and invited delegates met on May 12 and 13 in the second largest town in Croatia – Split, for the first in-person meeting of the year.

EUSA Family members were welcomed by the representatives of the hosts – the President of the Croatian Academic Sports Federation (CASF/HASS) Haris Pavletic, and the Rector of the University of Split Dragan Ljutic. EUSA President Adam Roczek thanked the two hosts institutions for the invitation and the hospitality, stressing that CASF is one of the most active national university sports associations in Europe, and expressed his satisfaction to see University of Split, now also EUSA Associate Member, hosting another set of EUSA-related events this year.



The EUSA Executive Committee was hosted in Split at the time of the traditional St Duje Regatta (Regata Sv. Duje), which in its 21st edition keep bringing together the best university sport rowers from top rowing universities in a very friendly manner, lead by Oxford and Cambridge universities. The event has been held under EUSA patronage again this year as well.



After the reception and meeting with the Rector, the EUSA Executive committee commenced its meeting in the Senate room of the University of Split.



At the end of the first working day, the participants were attended the opening ceremony of the 21st Rowing regatta St Duje, held at the Diocletian's Palace in the city center.



Second working day was held at the Technological Park of the University of Split, where the EUSA Executive Committee meeting continued.



The participants were also able to enjoy the thrilling finals of the rowing regatta in the early afternoon, and attend the national first league football match between Hajduk Split and Osijek in the evening.



The content part of the meeting started with EUSA President Roczek and Secretary General Matjaz Pecovnik giving an overview of recent activities, followed by a more detailed reports per topics and sectors.



The financial part was presented by EUSA Treasurer Francis Cirianni, who introduced an overview of financial report and accounts for 2022, provisional budget for 2023, as well as the report for the first three months of this year.



EUSA Executive Committee again confirmed its support to Ukraine. EUSA again opened its solidarity fund in order to support Ukrainian participation at the sports and educational events this year. The support is also given by several organisers of the 2023 European Universities Championships and national university sports associations. The possibility to support Ukraine is also open to other institutions and universities (see Club of Donors). Measures taken by the EUSA Executive Committee in March 2022 remain unchanged: the universities from Russia and Belarus and the representatives of the National University Sports Associations from Russia and Belarus are suspended from all the EUSA events until further notice; no EUSA events will be organised in Russia and Belarus until further notice; and the Members of EUSA Committees, Commissions, and Working Groups from Russia and Belarus will not be called upon for future EUSA meetings and activities. Furthermore, the concept of Neutral Athletes will not be implemented in the EUSA competitions this year.



Sports events were a main part of the discussion at the meeting in Split. EUSA Secretary General and Sports Manager Miha Zvan presented the report of the European Universities Championships 2023, as well as preparations for the 2025 editions. With impressive current numbers in registration, we can expect a record number of participation this year. Registration for the summer sports is currently open until May 15, and will reopen only in some sports, as in the others we have reached the capacity of the hosts. The inaugural European Universities Winter Sports Championship will be held in December this year in Val di Zoldo, Italy – and registration is to open on June 15.



Also the reports on the European Universities Games Debrecen-Miskolc 2024 (EUG2024) were presented. A delegation representing the Organising Committee attended the meeting and shared the progress report. The EUG2024 delegation was comprised of Hungarian University Sports Federation (HUSF/MEFS) Secretary General Peter Juhasz, representative of the University of Debrecen Kata Varga and representative of the University of Miskolc Reka Molnar; with EUSA & MESF Executive Committee member Zoltan Rakaczki giving a more detailed information about the current status.



The two-city model sporting event will represents the biggest University sport event organised in Hungary after the 1965 Summer Universiade. Organisers expect more than 4.000 participants to compete in 16 different sports. After the upcoming EUSA-EUG2024 Convention, to be held in Hungary in the beginning of June, the final list of the sports and locations will be confirmed. In cooperation with Hungarian Paralympic Committee, the event also foresees Para Table Tennis for students with disabilities as a part of the official sport programme, as well as some other promotional sports and activities. Non-sporting program, including educational, cultural and social activities is planned as well.



The presentation of the sports part continued with the overview of the European Universities Games 2026, as well as the bidding process of the European Universities Games 2028. The sports section was concluded by presenting the EUSA Patronage events, as well as partnership sport events - namely the FISU University World Cups in 3x3 Basketball and Football, where EUSA sports events - European Universities Championship and European Universities Games - serve as continental qualifiers for these FISU events.



EUSA Secretary General presented the support by the International University Sports Federation (FISU) for the current year. Projects, activities for continental development will be supported in the fields of governance (operation, governing meetings, strategic dialogue with FISU, and general assembly); sport activities (European Universities Championships 2023); promotion (emphasising the International Day of University Sport); and education (with special focus on volunteering).



Projects and initiatives supported by the European Union (EU) through the Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps (ESC) were presented by the EUSA Communications and Projects Manager Andrej Pisl. EUSA is engaged in several projects on the topics of Dual career, Equal opportunities and inclusion, Healthy lifestyle, Good governance, Skills development, Sustainability, Traineeship and Volunteering. EUSA through its Institute currently leads five EU-funded projects: Inclusion in Sport (iSport), Enhancing Sport Organisations and Management (ESOM), European Solidarity Corps (ESC) - Volunteering and Erasmus+ Internship. EUSA Institute is also one of the consortium partners in five other projects: Brand Value Alignment through Dual Career (BRAVA), Green Sports Hub Europe (GSHE), Innovating Football Leadership: Inclusion through Policy and Practice (iFlipp), United Forces to Support the Education of University Sport Community (Uni4S), Youth Integrity Ambassador Program (YIAP). We are also official partners of the European Week of Sport #BeActive and the Healthy Lifestyle For All initiative HealthyLifestlye4All.



The topic of Conferences and Meetings was presented by EUSA Secretary General, as well as Education and Development Manager Sara Rozman. Calendar of upcoming Executive Committee meetings was shared, and the plans for the upcoming EUSA General Assembly, which is planned to held in Kusadasi (TUR) October 12-15, in conjunction with the EUSA-FISU Strategic Dialogue. The recent very successful event EUSA-FISU Seminar, which was postponed from last year, and held this year in March in Val di Zoldo (ITA) was also presented.



The participants of the meeting were also briefed on the international cooperation, with key updates regarding FISU and other continental federations, partners and other organisations, as well as from the EUSA member federations (national university sports associations), and the newly launched EUSA Associated Members. EUSA confirmed the newly received applications and up to now, 71 universities from 14 EUSA member countries have conditionally been granted the status of EUSA Associated Members, to be formally confirmed also by the EUSA General Assembly.



Before the official conclusion of the event, under the item of Internal matters the members discussed the EUSA awards which will be attributed this year, confirmed nomination of three technical delegates (Golf, Rugby 7s and Skiing), confirmed the change in the Karate Technical regulations and the change of the EUSA Incident Policy.



The Executive Committee also attributed the General Assembly 2025 to Zagreb, Croatia - after the lively presentation by CASF Sectretary General Nikola Vincetic. EUSA Family will return to Zagreb 10 years after the EUSA Conference being hosted there in 2015, and the European Universities Games 2016, as well as several European Universities Championships throughout the years.



At the meeting, Chair of the Branding and Marketing Council Suleyman Kocasert presented the EUSA official business wear, results of partnership agreement with Orka Holding and their Damat brand. All EUSA Executive Committee members will have received the official suits from their top quality label still this year. The sponsorship agreement was signed during the last Executive Committee meeting in October in Istanbul.



EUSA would like to thank the Croatian University Sports Federation and the University of Split for the institutional support and hospitality, and also to the volunteers who assisted us throughout the event. We would also like to acknowledge the International University Sports Federation for their support of the development of the organisation, as well as our sponsor and supplier Orka Holding for providing us with their top fashion suite solution.