2016 European Universities Games

The 2016 European University Games, also known as 2016 European Universiade, was the third biannual European Universities Games (EUG), the largest European multisport event,^[1] with 4800 participants from 403 universities in 41 countries.^[2] The event took place in the Croatian cities of Zagreb and Rijeka between 13 and 25 July 2016,^[3][4] and was organised by European University Sports Association (EUSA) and Croatian Academic Sport Federation (CASF) with the cooperation of University of Zagreb, University of Rijeka, City of Rijeka, City of Zagreb and Ministry of Science, Education and Sport.^[4]

3rd European Universities Games
3. Europske sveučilišne igre

Host city	Zagreb Rijeka
Country	Croatia
Nations	41
Athletes	4,786
Sport	21 + 2 para
Opening	July 13, 2016
Closing	July 25, 2016
Opened by	Tihomir Orešković (Prime minister of Croatia)
Athlete's Oath	Ana Lenard, karate (University of Zagreb)
Judge's Oath	Ivan Šverko, basketball (Rijeka)
Website	www.eug2016.com
← 2014 2018 →

Introduction

Bid selection

The host for the European Universities Games 2016 was decided on 1 June 2013 in Ljubljana, Slovenia, by the EUSA Executive Committee.^[5] The two bids were Zagreb and Rijeka in Croatia, and Coimbra in Portugal.^[5] The Croatian presentation was followed by a questions and answers session, and the same system applied also for the Portuguese delegation with the bidding city of Coimbra, which came next.^[4]

The moment when Croatia won the bid for organizing EUG2016

The Croatian delegation was led by Gordan Kozulj, the Chairman of the Bidding Committee, and other members of the delegation were Zeljko Jovanovic, Minister of Science, Education and Sports; Pero Lučin, Rector of the University of Rijeka; Petra Radetic, President of Student Council of the University of Zagreb; Jelena Pavicic Vukicevic, Deputy Mayor of the City of Zagreb and Zrinko Custonja, the President of the Croatian University Sports Federation (CASF).^[5] The Portuguese delegation was composed of Mr Ricardo Morgado, the Chairman of the Bidding Committee; Mr Emidio Guerreiro, Secretary of State for Sport and Youth; Mr Joao Gabriel Silva, Rector of the University of Coimbra; Mr Joao Barbosa De Melo, Mayor of Coimbra; Mr Bruno Barracosa, the President of the Academic University Sports Federation of Portugal (FADU) and Mr Tiago Martins, Vice-President of the Students Council of the University of Coimbra.^[5]

Before the announcement of the winning city was done, EUSA President Roczek stressed the quality of both bids and presentations, and then announced "The 3rd European Universities Games in 2016 will be organised in: Zagreb-Rijeka in Croatia"^[4] Coimba in Portugal was later chosen to host the 2018 European Universities Games.^[6]

Tradition of university sports in Croatia

The first student sports club was founded 112 years ago at the University of Zagreb. The Federation of Academic Sports Clubs at the University of Zagreb was founded 92 years ago. Mandatory physical education classes were introduced in Croatian universities 52 years ago. Twenty eight years ago the first University Games, also known as Universiade was organized in Zagreb. The Croatian Academic Sports Federation was founded 22 years ago. Organized primarily as a cultural and a social event, the 1987 Universiade in Zagreb helped bring infrastructural renaissance to the capital city of Croatia and created the prerequisites for the significant advancement of Croatian sport as a whole.^[2][7]

Sports

Sport events

The 2016 European University Games programme featured 21 sports including Compulsory sports (8), Optional sports (11), Demo sports programme (2) and sports for students with disabilities (2) for the first time in academical sport.^[8]

• Badminton (5)
• Basketball (2)
• Basketball 3x3 (5)
• Beach volleyball (2)
• Bridge (2)
• Chess (4)
• Climbing (3)
• Football (2)
• Futsal (2)
• Golf (2)
• Handball (2)
• Judo (16)
• Karate (12)
• Rowing (21)
• Rugby sevens (2)
• Swimming (33)
• Table tennis (8)
• Volleyball (2) (details)
• Water polo (2) (details)
• Tennis (2)
• Taekwondo (20)

Venues

Venues in Zagreb

Dom sportova

• Badminton (1)

Dvorana Pauk

• Bridge
• Chess

Football

Stadium	Home club	Capacity	Scheduled games
Stadion na Peščenici	NK HAŠK	2,500
Stadion Lučko	NK Lučko	3,000
Stadion sv. Josip Radnik	NK Sesvete	2,000
Stadion NK Kustošija	NK Kustošija	2,550
Stadion NK Trnje	NK Trnje	1,100
Stadion NK Vrapče	NK Vrapče	1,000
Football center Zagrebello	NC Zagrebello	1,500
ŠRC Rudeš	NK Rudeš	3,900

SRC Jarun

• Rowing

Opening ceremony

The EUG 2016 Opening Ceremony took place on Wednesday, July 13, 2016 at 21.00 with a live TV broadcast by the national TV broadcaster (Croatian Radiotelevision - HRT), and a duration of 120 minutes.^[9] The tickets for the opening ceremony were free, but without them it was not possible to enter the event area – the athletics stadium of the Sports Park Mladost in Zagreb.^[10]

Directed by Krešimir Dolenčić, the ceremony started with an introduction of host cities. Zagreb was depicted as the city of universities, parks, museums, art and sporting success, while Rijeka was depicted as the city of naval tradition, torpedoes, rock and roll, good vibrations and the world’s second largest carnival. Croatian singer Damir Kedžo and the University of Zagreb’s choir Concordia discors performed the official song of the Games– As long as heart believes. The anthem describes the synergy of faith and hard work, which explains its popularity among the athletes who came to the Games. It is not easy to study and achieve good sporting results at the same time, and the very fact that they are participating makes all student athletes at the Games champions of hard work, faith, knowledge, and labor. A parade of this year’s participants ensued; the participants and the organizers of the 1987 Universiade carried the flag of the European University Sports Association, leading the parade– legendary basketball coach Mirko Novosel, the president of the Executive Board of the 1987 Universiade, lawyer Vladimir Pezo, the former Mayor of Zagreb, Dr. Mato Mikić, the director of the security sector of the 1987 Universiade, Lieutenant General Mate Laušić, the director of the opening ceremony of the 1987 Universiade, Paolo Magelli, and theatre director and producer Duško Ljuština, who was the director of the culture sector at the 1987 Universiade. The first group of flag-carriers then passed the flag to the second group, consisting of several Croatian trophy-winning athletes: longtime member of the Croatian national water polo team Dubravko Šimenc, basketball player Danira Bilić, backstroke swimmer Gordan Kožulj, basketball player and coach Aleksandar Petrović, tennis player Renata Šašak and water polo player Samir Barać. Over five thousand participants walked the athletic track at Mladost Stadium, entering the track in alphabetical order by the name of the country they came from. The hosts occasionally made interesting remarks about the 403 universities participating in the Games. The hosts walked at the tail of the parade – Croatian students came from 16 universities from Zagreb, Osijek, Karlovac, Rijeka, Split, Pula, Vukovar and Dubrovnik. Before the oaths were taken, the attendees were addressed by the president of the European Universities Games Zagreb – Rijeka 2016 Zrinko Čustonja, the Rector of the University of Zagreb Damir Boras, the president of the European University Sports Association Adam Roczek and the Croatian Prime Minister Tihomir Orešković.

In the end, contestants and referees took their oaths. On behalf of the contestants the oath was taken by Ana Lenard, a karateist from Zagreb, while Ivan Šverko, a basketball referee from Rijeka, took the oath on behalf of the referees.^[11]

Closing Ceremony

The closing ceremony of the European Universities Games in Zagreb and Rijeka took place at Rijeka Korzo on July 25, 2016. These third European Universities Games were the greatest and biggest to date by the number of participants, with almost six thousand student athletes from 403 universities and 41 European countries who competed in Rijeka and Zagreb over the two weeks.

The ceremony was attended by numerous dignitaries who praised the organizers and congratulated the participants on their results. Near the very end of tonight’s programme, after the young bell-ringers passed him the flag of EUSA, Daniel Moreno, representative of the next host of the European Universities Games – the Portuguese city of Coimbra, addressed the audience as well:

‘First of all, I would like to congratulate the Croatian Academic Sports Federation, Zagreb and Rijeka on these great European Universities Games 2016. This is a great moment for the university sports movement. The standard of quality these games have set is high, and we will do our best to deliver an event as this one in Coimbra, Portugal in 2018.’

The Games, which were opened with a great opening ceremony at Mladost Stadium in Zagreb, were closed today in Rijeka, thus symbolically closing the circle of organization of the largest multi-sport event in recent Croatian history.^[12]

Medals

University	Country	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
University of Zagreb (co-host)	CRO	30	18	17	65
University of Split	CRO	11	5	5	21
University of Valencia	ESP	11	4	1	16
University of Vichy	FRA	8	0	0	8
University of Rijeka (co-host)	CRO	5	7	6	18
Ural Federal University	RUS	5	7	3	15
University of Heidelberg	GER	5	3	2	10
Yeditepe University	TUR	5	3	2	10
University of Niš	SRB	5	1	2	8
Russian State University for the Humanities	RUS	5	1	1	7
Eotvos Lorand University	HUN	5	1	0	6
University of Ljubljana	SLO	4	2	5	11
Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava	SVK	4	2	0	6
Istanbul Aydin University	TUR	4	1	1	6
University of Kragujevac	SRB	4	0	0	4
University of Bochum	GER	3	4	3	10
University of Stirling	GBR	3	1	2	6
University of Minho	POR	3	0	7	10
Marmara University	TUR	3	0	1	4
GEA College	SLO	3	0	0	3
University of Strasbourg	FRA	2	2	1	5
Kharkiv State Academy of Physical Culture	UKR	2	2	1	5
Siberian Federal University	RUS	2	1	2	5
Lithuanian Sports University	LTU	2	1	1	4
Armenian State Institute of Physical Culture and Sport	ARM	2	1	0	3
Charles University	CZE	2	1	0	3
Matej Bel University	SVK	2	1	0	3
University of Belgrade	SRB	2	0	4	6
Sarajevo University	BIH	2	0	4	6
Reading University	GBR	2	0	1	3
University of Turku	FIN	2	0	1	3
State University of Physical Education and Sport	MDA	2	0	0	2
University of Linz	AUT	2	0	0	2
Oxford Brooks University	GBR	2	0	0	2
Moscow Aviation Institute	RUS	2	0	0	2
University of Cordoba	ESP	2	0	0	2
University of East London	GBR	2	0	0	2
Robert Gordon University	GBR	2	0	0	2
University of Novi Sad	SRB	1	5	3	9
Technical University of Catalonia	ESP	1	4	1	6
National Institute of Applied Sciences Lyon	FRA	1	3	3	7
University of Potsdam	GER	1	3	1	5
Technical University of Madrid	ESP	1	2	3	6
University of Lisbon	POR	1	2	3	6
Uludag University	TUR	1	2	1	4
University of Edinburgh	GBR	1	1	3	5
Sumy State University	UKR	1	1	1	3
Opole University	POL	1	1	1	3
Autonomous University of Barcelona	ESP	1	1	0	2
Nizhny Novgorod State University	RUS	1	1	0	2
Belarussian State Pedagogical University	BLR	1	1	0	2
University of Montpellier	FRA	1	1	0	2
Szechenyi Istvan University	HUN	1	1	0	2
Sheffield Hallam University	GBR	1	1	0	2
Masaryk University	CZE	1	1	0	2
University of Coimbra	POR	1	0	4	5
Erzincan University	TUR	1	0	3	4
Istanbul Ticaret University	TUR	1	0	3	4
Kozminski University	POL	1	0	3	4
University of Bordeaux	FRA	1	0	3	4
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology	GER	1	0	3	4
University of Orleans	FRA	1	0	2	3
University of Vienna	AUT	1	0	2	3
Vytautas Magnus University	LTU	1	0	1	2
University School of Physical Education in Poznan	POL	1	0	1	2
University of Barcelona	ESP	1	0	1	2
Paris Descartes University	FRA	1	0	1	2
Polotsk State University	BLR	1	0	1	2
University of Cambridge	GBR	1	0	1	2
University of Sheffield	GBR	1	0	1	2
Pavol Jozef Safarik University	SVK	1	0	1	2
University of Mostar	BIH	1	0	1	2
Georgian National University Seu	GEO	1	0	0	1
Leeds Beckett University	GBR	1	0	0	1
Moscow State University of Mechanical Engineering	RUS	1	0	0	1
Radboud University Nijmegen	NED	1	0	0	1
Vasile Alecsandri University of Bacău	ROU	1	0	0	1
University of Bergen	NOR	1	0	0	1
University of Maribor	SLO	1	0	0	1
University of Nice Sophia Antipolis	FRA	1	0	0	1
University of Paris 13	FRA	1	0	0	1
Uppsala University	SWE	1	0	0	1
University of Bihać	BIH	1	0	0	1
Delft University of Technology	NED	1	0	0	1
Leibniz University of Hannover	GER	1	0	0	1
University of Bremen	GER	1	0	0	1
University of Nottingham	GBR	1	0	0	1
University of Constantine the Philosopher	SVK	1	0	0	1
University of Salzburg	AUT	1	0	0	1
Erasmus University Rotterdam	NED	1	0	0	1
Polytechnic Institute of Porto	POR	1	0	0	1
J. J. Strossmayer University in Osijek	CRO	1	0	0	1
Technical University of Košice	SVK	0	4	1	5
University of Innsbruck	AUT	0	3	2	5
Newcastle University	GBR	0	3	0	3
University Donja Gorica	MNE	0	2	3	5
University of Cologne	GER	0	2	2	4
University of South Bohemia	CZE	0	2	2	4
University of Warsaw	POL	0	2	1	3
Belarusian State University	BLR	0	2	0	2
German Sport University Cologne	GER	0	2	0	2
University of Lausanne	SUI	0	2	0	2
University of Lorraine	FRA	0	2	0	2
University of Munster	GER	0	2	0	2
Vilnius University	LTU	0	2	0	2
Klaipeda University	LTU	0	1	4	5
The Angelus Silesius State School of Higher Vocational Education in Walbrzych	POL	0	1	4	5
Catholic University of Saint Anthony	ESP	0	1	2	3
St. Cyril and Methodius University	MKD	0	1	2	3
University of Duisburg-Essen	GER	0	1	2	3
Berlin University of H & S	GER	0	1	2	3
Budapest University of Technology and Economics	HUN	0	1	1	2
Reykjavik University	ISL	0	1	1	2
University of Erlangen-Nuremberg	GER	0	1	1	2
University of Graz	AUT	0	1	1	2
University of Hagen	GER	0	1	1	2
University of Lleida	ESP	0	1	1	2
Vitebsk State University	BLR	0	1	1	2
Claude Bernard University Lyon	FRA	0	1	1	2
Nova University of Lisbon	POR	0	1	1	2
Stanislaw Stastzic University of Applied Sciences in Pila	POL	0	1	1	2
Technical University in Munich	GER	0	1	1	2
Belarusian State University of Physical Culture	BLR	0	1	0	1
Swansea University	GBR	0	1	0	1
Technical University of Dortmund	GER	0	1	0	1
Academy of Public Administration	BLR	0	1	0	1
Aix-Marseille University	FRA	0	1	0	1
Durham University	GBR	0	1	0	1
Francisk Skorina Gomel State University	BLR	0	1	0	1
Institute of Lorraine Champagne - Ardenne	FRA	0	1	0	1
Mendel University	CZE	0	1	0	1
Mogliev State A. Kuleshov University	BLR	0	1	0	1
Mogliev State University of Food Technologies	BLR	0	1	0	1
Norwegian School of Sport Sciences	NOR	0	1	0	1
Obuda University	HUN	0	1	0	1
Pierre-and-Marrie-Curie University Paris	FRA	0	1	0	1
Szent Istvan University	HUN	0	1	0	1
Tallinn University of Technology	EST	0	1	0	1
University "1 Decembrie 1918" Alba Iulia	ROU	0	1	0	1
University of Almeria	ESP	0	1	0	1
University of Applied Sciences Wiesbaden	GER	0	1	0	1
University of Deusto	ESP	0	1	0	1
University of Gloucestershire	GBR	0	1	0	1
University of London	GBR	0	1	0	1
University of Mainz	GER	0	1	0	1
University of Stuttgart	GER	0	1	0	1
University of Tras-os-Montes and Alto Douro	POR	0	1	0	1
University of Ulster	IRL	0	1	0	1
University of the Basque Country	ESP	0	1	0	1
Ramon Llull University	ESP	0	1	0	1
International University Sarajevo	BIH	0	1	0	1
Ternopil National Economic University	UKR	0	1	0	1
Kazan Institute of Economics, Management and Law	RUS	0	1	0	1
Comenius University	SVK	0	0	2	2
Lithuanian University of Health Sciences	LTU	0	0	2	2
Loughborough University	GBR	0	0	2	2
Oxford University	GBR	0	0	2	2
University of Zurich	SUI	0	0	2	2
National Sports Academy Vasil Levski	BGR	0	0	2	2
University of Frankfurt[disambiguation needed]	GER	0	0	2	2
University of Vic	ESP	0	0	2	2
University of Rouen	FRA	0	0	1	1
Belarusian Institute of Law	BLR	0	0	1	1
Catholic University of Portugal	POR	0	0	1	1
Coventry University	GBR	0	0	1	1
Czech University of Life Science	CZE	0	0	1	1
Faith University	TUR	0	0	1	1
Heroit Watt University	GBR	0	0	1	1
Jagellonian University	POL	0	0	1	1
KOC University	TUR	0	0	1	1
Kuban State University	RUS	0	0	1	1
Lithuanian University of Educational Sciences	LTU	0	0	1	1
Mustafa Kemal University	TUR	0	0	1	1
New 3D General Education School	FRA	0	0	1	1
Nottingham Trent University	GBR	0	0	1	1
Queen's University Belfast	GBR	0	0	1	1
State University of Tetovo	MKD	0	0	1	1
Technical University of Ostrava	CZE	0	0	1	1
University of Applied Health Sciences	CRO	0	0	1	1
University of Applied Sciences Aachen	GER	0	0	1	1
University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria	AUT	0	0	1	1
University of Bern	SUI	0	0	1	1
University of Caen	FRA	0	0	1	1
University of Cyprus	CYP	0	0	1	1
University of Dusseldorf	GER	0	0	1	1
University of Eastern Finland	FIN	0	0	1	1
University of Economics in Bratislava	SVK	0	0	1	1
University of Exeter	GBR	0	0	1	1
University of Fribourg	SUI	0	0	1	1
University of Groningen	NED	0	0	1	1
University of Hamburg	GER	0	0	1	1
University of Marburg	GER	0	0	1	1
University of Montenegro	MNE	0	0	1	1
University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne	FRA	0	0	1	1
University of Porto	POR	0	0	1	1
University of South Bohemia	CZE	0	0	1	1
University of Tuzla	BIH	0	0	1	1
Pompeu Fabra University	ESP	0	0	1	1
Karlovac University of Applied Sciences	CRO	0	0	1	1
Rhine-Westphalia Institute of Rechnology Aachen	GER	0	0	1	1
University Pantheon-Assas Paris 2	FRA	0	0	1	1
University of Aberdeen	GBR	0	0	1	1
University College Martiniere Duchere	FRA	0	0	1	1
Braunschweig University of Technology	GER	0	0	1	1
University of Physical Education	HUN	0	0	1	1
British Universities & Colleges Sport	GBR	0	0	1	1
Total		216	178	224	618

Symbols

Verbal identity: motto

The slogan Hearth believes, mind achieves, proclaims idea of dualism, which is integrated in the very proposal of the dual candidature of Zagreb and Rijeka, and its basic idea is officially explained as follows: _{"The slogan is the basic concept of the synergy of the heart and mind, two mighty organs of great contrast; however only through their joint work it is possible to achieve the proper functioning of the human body. The concept of dualism and synergy of the heart and mind, promote all the key values that student sports represent: ratio, education, prudence, strength, energy, fighting spirit and love – characteristics that help young people achieve excellence in their academic and athletic lives. The slogan also rests on the concepts of faith as a motivator, and achievement as a result of the successful sports activity. Both concepts represent important elements of sports – faith in one self and one’s own capabilities, faith in victory, the achievement of results, the worthiness of persistence and in vested effort."}^[13]

Visual identity: logo

The author of the visual identity is Croatian graphic designer Jurica Dolić, who described his solution as follows: _{"The visual identity embodies the verbal identity aspect by incorporating the symbol of the heart (shape, red colour) and mind (circle, blue colour). It also embodies a number of other symbols which have an exceptional importance for the candidature of Zagreb and Rijeka: Colours – red, white and blue are the representative colours of Croatian national symbols. Red is the colour of Rijeka, while blue is the representative colour of Zagreb. Shapes – white shapes (inside the blue circle) symbolize the number 16 (year of holding the Games – 2016). Furthermore, these shapes denote the silhouette of “Zagi” (the exceptionally popular mascot of the Zagreb Universiade from 1987), and in the combination with the red colour of the heart portrays a flame as the symbol of the sporting and Olympic spirit."}^[13]

The mascot

After public voting, the figure of hamster became an official mascote of EUG2016. Final selection of the mascot is the result of the selection process that began in September 2014, after which at an open call 64 applications with mascot suggestions arrived. Nine-member jury selected three finalists that were presented to the public who was offered the opportunity to make a final decision of the EUG 2016 mascot in the second round of the competition. The winning suggestion was the one by Croatian authors Vedran Rede and Matija Tomšić who created the mascot of hamster, suggesting that it is important to participate and not always to win.^[14]

Official Anthem

'As long as heart believes' is official song of European Universities Games Zagreb-Rijeka 2016.

Author of music and lyrics: Bruno Kovačić

Arrangement and production: Nikša Bratoš

Lyrics:

Look at me, I'm strong and so alive

I can run and I can fly so high

And chase the birds

Up to the sky

I can do it

At least I can try

I can write a song about us all

Make a chorus sound so lyrical

So beautiful

And powerful

Let us sing together to the world

Somewhere in the future I will be

Looking at my younger me

Feeling proud of what my mind achieves

For as long as heart believes

Someday we'll have children of our own

Planet Earth, still our only home

This blue dot we know

Where we love and grow

Will keep on living if we make it so^[15][16]

See also

• 2012 European Universities Games
• European University Sports Association
• 1987 Summer Universiade

References

1. "Oxford's Women Lightweight Rowers are European Universities Champions!". Oxford University Sport. 6 August 2014. Archived from the original on 7 May 2016. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
2. "Zagreb-Rijeka To Host European Universities Games In 2016". Croatia Week. 2 June 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
3. "Hrčak maskota Univerzijade, još mu samo treba dati ime" (in Croatian). Vecernji.hr. 27 January 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
4. "European Universities Games Zagreb-Rijeka 2016". European University Sports Association (EUSA). Retrieved 27 February 2015.
5. "European Universities Games 2016 and 2018". FISU. 7 June 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
6. "European Universities Games Coimbra 2018". European University Games. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
7. "Our Inspiration" (in Croatian). European University Games. Archived from the original on 2014-12-17. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
8. "Sport".
9. "EUG 2016 - Opening Ceremony".
10. "Free tickets for the opening ceremony released".
11. "The European Universities Games Zagreb – Rijeka 2016 officially opened".
12. "EUSA president: 'Croatia organized the best Games in history'". Retrieved 2016-09-20.
13. "European Universities Games Zagreb-Rijeka 2016". European University Games. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
14. "Maskota" (in Croatian). European University Games. Archived from the original on 2014-12-17. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
15. EUG Zagreb-Rijeka 2016 (2016-06-06), As long as heart believes - Official Song of EUG2016, retrieved 2016-09-20{{citation}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
16. "Introduction of the official song of the EUG: As long as heart believes". Retrieved 2016-09-20.

External links

• Official website
• International University Sports Federation (FISU)
• European University Sports Association (EUSA)