EUSA member German University Sports Federation (ADH) completed another successful intercultural exchange with the Federation of University Sport China (C), continuing the strong relations between the two countries.

Since a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by FUSC Vice-President Mr Yanqing Xue and ADH Secretary General Mr Christoph Fischer in December 2016, China has hosted a cultural exchange programme for visiting German students on an annual basis, which includes a Final Four Football tournament involving two German and two Chinese university teams.



This year marked the fourth edition of the tournament, in which PH Ludwigsburg and TU Darmstadt represented Germany and Taiyuan University of Technology and Shaanxi University represented China, with each team facing off against each other.

Taking place in in Xi'an City, last year's German University Cup winners PH Ludwigsburg needed penalties to edge Taiyuan in their opening fixture, before earning a 3-0 win over compatriots TU Darmstadt, who could not fully compete due to injuries. A 2-0 win over a joint Shaanxi University and TU Darmstadt team in their final game saw Ludwigsburg crowned champions, with Taiyuan University of Technology in second and the joint Shaanxi University and TU Darmstadt team earning third place.



In addition to the matches on the pitch and getting to know each other, the participating students also had the opportunity to explore the countryside and to further their education through lectures across the ten-day cultural exchange.

All ADH representatives invited by FUSC, a department of the Chinese Ministry of Education, were given the opportunity not only to marvel at the 8 000-strong terracotta army shrouded in legend, but also to visit the Dayan Pagoda and the 13.6 km long city wall.



ADH board member Dirk Kilian, who was present as official representative of the association, said, "To see these world-famous sights at close range was a unique and truly impressive experience and provided a successful setting for the competition.

“We are grateful to our hosts that students from two German universities had the opportunity to look beyond their cultural horizons and therefore be part of living international understanding.

"The 4th Final 4 tournament was once again an unforgettable sporting and intercultural experience".