After public voting, the figure of hamster became an official mascot of EUG 2016. Final selection of the mascot is the result of the selection process that began in September last year. At an open call 64 applications arrived. Nine-member jury selected three finalists that were presented to the public. The second round of the competition offered citizens the opportunity to make a final decision of the mascot for the European Universities Games 2016 - EUG2016, that will be held in Zagreb and Rijeka.



"The concept of our mascot is based on the idea that It is important to participate , and the animal that best impersonates the idea is tiny and cute hamster. This animal is best known for its major mode of entertainment - running. He does not have athletic body, but he likes sport. The most important for him is to hang out, have fun and participate. This makes him a winner, regardless of the outcome of the competition. We are proud and happy that our solution caused the most sympathy among the citizens and that our hamster became the official mascot of this great event." said the authors of the mascot, Vedran Rede and Matija Tomšić.



With the presentation of the official mascot at a press conference on Monday, January 26, 2015 in Zagreb, the organizers of the EUG2016 took this occasion to announce a new contest in which citizens will have the opportunity to choose the official name of the mascot. Proposal of the name is possible to be done through the official Facebook page of the Games.