The organisers of the European Universities Games 2016 hosted heads of delegations - national coordinators from 13 European countries and delegation of the European University Sports Association (EUSA) on May 10 and 11 in Zagreb and Rijeka - host cities of this year’s Games.

The purpose of the visit was to present all information about EUG 2016, especially focusing on sport venues, competition, accommodation, catering, security, social activities and other aspects of the event.



Delegation members from France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Lithuania, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey and United Kingdom as well as EUSA representatives started their visit in Rijeka on Tuesday.



The programme in Rijeka consisted of the plenary presentation part and venue-visit of the catering facilities, sport venues for Swimming, Para Swimming, Water Polo, Handball and Martial Arts, open air venues for Basketball 3x3 and Closing Ceremony.



Secretary General of the EUG 2016 Mr Marko Zunic and Vice-President of the Games Mr Haris Pavletic expressed their satisfaction with the fact that a lot was invested in student standard thanks to the Games – in Zagreb, and as well in Rijeka. New student campus in Rijeka and the renovation of the campus in Zagreb will be some of the most visible and important legacies of the Games.



On behalf of EUSA Mr Arie Rosenzweig as the Supervision Commission Member and Mr Matjaz Pecovnik as the Secretary General expressed their conviction that EUG 2016 will be a fantastic event, with great atmosphere and friendships that in some cases will last forever. They also stressed the importance of cooperation of the NUSA and University representatives in the preparation of the event, to ensure smooth running of the event.



On the second day of the visit on Wednesday, the delegates were welcomed in Zagreb on the Faculty of Kinesiology by the President of the Games and Croatian Academic Sports Federation Mr Zrinko Custonja.



Project managers, heads of departments and other officials presented useful information, followed by venue-visit programme of the Athletes’ Village and sport venues. The delegation representatives began the tour at the Faculty of Kinesiology, where the EUG 2016 Headquarters will be located during the Games.



A few meters away, the delegates could then visit the student campus, where the participants will be accommodated, as well as premises will be provided for offices, medical rooms and other services. The lunch was organised in the students’ cafeteria which will host the catering and dining hall for athletes.



Detailed inspection of some of the sport venues followed. The delegates visited the venues close to the Athlete’s Village, several of them in a walking distance from the campus and more than 80 % of them in a 10 km proximity of the campus.



The delegates also visited competition venues for Basketball, Volleyball, Rugby 7’s, Sports Climbing and Football. The inspection tour ended with a visit of Hall of Sports, where Badminton, Futsal, Table Tennis and Para Table Tennis will be held.



At the end of the visit, NUSA and EUSA representatives returned to the Faculty of Kinesiology where they had the opportunity to share their impressions and receive answers to their questions directly from the Heads of all departments of EUG 2016 organization.



For a few selected team sports: Badminton, Bridge, Chess Men, Chess Women, Futsal Men, Golf Men, Golf Women, Rugby 7s Men, Rugby 7s Women, Sport Climbing and Tennis Women there is a possibility to enter a new team until May 16 through the EUSA member federations. It is also possible to enter a new entries for individual sports in Karate and Rowing until this date.



EUSA and the organisers also confirmed May 16 as the extended deadline to submit Quantitative entry form for all registered teams.



The 3rd edition of the European Universities Games will be held in Zagreb and Rijeka in Croatia between July 12 and 25, 2016. It will host over 5000 participants, who will be able to compete in 21 sports: Badminton, Basketball, Basketball 3x3, Beach Volleyball, Bridge, Chess, Football, Futsal, Golf, Handball, Judo, Karate, Rowing, Rugby 7's, Sport Climbing, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Volleyball and Water Polo. For the first time, competitions for student athletes with disabilities will be an integral part of the mainstream university sport event of this scope. An accompanying social, educational and cultural programme will enrich the event.

Please see the official webiste www.eug2016.com and our EUSA Games Zagreb-Rijeka 2016 page for more information.