The basketball competition at the European Universities Games is expected to be fierce, as the team of the University of Vytautas Magnues from Lithuania returns to student competitions after five years of absence.
Athletes from all over Europe are gradually coming to the Faculty of Kinesiology and picking up their accreditation passes. Today and tomorrow they will settle in, meet their opponents and take a stroll around Zagreb. Their competitions will start in a few days. We wanted to meet the teams, so we asked them about their expectations of the Games.
Among the first rugby teams to arrive at the athletes’ village were the men’s and women’s rugby teams from Valencia. We noticed that a girl wearing a cast came with the team.
“The captain should be with her team. I had the misfortune to break my leg a week before the scheduled trip to Zagreb, but that couldn’t stop me from being with them,” said Elena from the rugby 7s team from Valencia, with a smile on her face.
“Our main strength is our speed and we hope to use it to achieve a good result.”
The men’s team from Valencia awaits the competition with much enthusiasm.
“We finished ninth at last year’s European student rugby competition, but we had a great time, and we expect to have a great time here as well. Our main strengths are our speed and the fact that we are better-looking than any other team!”
While we were talking with the teams from Valencia, Hrki stopped by, using the opportunity to get photos with our competitors.
As we already said, we expect a fierce basketball competition. The team of the University of Vytautas Magnus from Lithuania returns to student competitions after five years of absence. The fact that they had won a gold medal at every competition they had participated in – winning 5 out of 5 – speaks volumes about their dominance.
Paul from the Lithuanian team explained to us the reasons behind their dominance.
„Our student competitions are at a high level and we prepare a lot for European competitions. We have training sessions five times a week and we openly say we want to win the gold.“
Head coach of the Lithuanian national team Jonas Kazlauskas regularly includes thirteen players who have participated in student competitions on the preliminary list for their national team. Many players from Lithuania’s greatest basketball clubs also play for their student teams. When asked how do they do it, Paul responds:
„In Lithuania, obtaining a bachelor’s or a master’s degree is held in high regard. All athletes who think they can enroll into faculties succeed in doing so. Another advantage is that the universities are willing to help athletes, doing everything in their power to help athletes balance training and their exams.”
While basketball players will spend their time „in the air“, and rugby players at the ground, rowers will fight for the title at Jarun Lake. The most numerous – at least on the first day – were the boys and girls from Great Britain. James from the University of Newcastle explains why:
„Rowing is at a very high level in Britain. The whole world knows about the eights race between Oxford and Cambridge, but other competitions are tough and unpredictable as well. A lot of rowers compete for the British national team as well. Four crews have come from my university and we hope to win the gold.”
One thing is certain – a lot of excitement awaits us in the next two weeks. So bring your good mood and visit the sports venues!
