How are the preparations for the EUG 2016 (European Universities Games Zagreb – Rijeka 2016) going? Can you compare it with Universiade in 1987? How will the host cities benefit of EUG 2016? Where is Croatia located in the view of the international student sport and what is the role of EUSA (European University Sports Association)? The Vice-President of the Croatian Academic Sports Federation, the President of the Coordinating Committee of EUG 2016 and the Executive board member of EUSA, Mr Haris Pavletic has answered to these questions.
Where is Croatia located in the view of the international student sport?
Croatia is one of the most active countries in the field of European university sport. There are many Croatian universities that are active at the European championships and Games.
What is the role of EUSA?
EUSA is an association of European national university sports organizations, but there are a couple of exceptions like Israel, Turkey, Russia, etc. As an organization, EUSA is in charge of coordination and organization of university sport at European level, primarily organizing annual European championships and European Universities Games every two years.
Like any other organization, EUSA consists of several management structures. The General Assembly is the highest and the widest body of members. The General Assembly elects the Executive Committee which consists of the President, two Vice-Presidents, Secretary General and other members, including me as a member. The Executive Committee manages all organizational and executive activities, primarily through the implementation of European championships and the European Universities Games.
How many students are involved in EUSA?
EUSA is wide opened for the students and their contribution, while there is also a Student Committee elected by the EUSA member countries. Student committee assists in the organization, leaded by the representative in the Executive Committee, who is also the president of the Student Commission. This way, we are trying to integrate as many students and student ideas in our programme that is primarily there because of the students and for the students.
EUSA awards the faculties which have excelled in promoting student sports. What kind of rewards?
EUSA honours the most active university each year. This way, we want to award the universities that recognize the importance of sports in their programme and student-athletes as an important part of student life.
The award for fair play is given to candidates who have made a nice gesture that is not a part of the game, but stands out in some way.
We also have the “Photo Competition Award” for the best photo during the championships.
How are the preparations for the EUG 2016 going?
The preparations are going very well and we believe that Croatia will show itself in true colours and show excellence in all European university fields. First of all, EUG 2016 will be the biggest Game so far, we have the largest number of registered athletes and the largest number of sports.
So far, everything is going all right and I think we will organize an event that will make us all very proud.
Compared with the Universiade in Zagreb in 1987, what organizational innovations can we expect?
Looking at the sports programme, EUG 2016 will be bigger than Universiade. There will be five thousand athletes, 21 sports, two sports for students with disability (Table tennis and Swimming). Games will be are organized in Zagreb and Rijeka. Back then, Universiade was more expensive, considering the infrastructural and organizational demands. For EUG 2016, we relied on the existing sports infrastructure and reconstructed and build the accommodation facilities for students from Zagreb and Rijeka.
How will the EUG 2016 help in the promotion of Zagreb and Rijeka as sports and tourist destinations?
The platform of this event is really great and gives an opportunity to use it. We have a lot of projects related to the EUG 2016 and I hope there will be more of them. PR campaigns grows bigger so the impact on the European university community will be even stronger.
Borna Kos/Unisport
