‘They told us we were crazy a couple of years ago when we had wanted to become the organizers of the European Universities Games, and it’s clear to everyone today that we succeeded. Almost 5800 athletes competing at the European Universities Games Zagreb – Rijeka 2016 is the proof that this is the largest sporting event in the history of Croatia, and also the largest in Europe this year in terms of the number of participants’, said the Secretary-General of the EUG, Marko Žunić, during the opening of the official part of the Rectors’ Conference, on July 12 in Opatija.
‘It’s an honor to have Rectors from all over Europe and America, here in Opatija, Rijeka and Zagreb, especially since we have been trying our best to develop and improve university sports.’
The Rector of the University of Rijeka Pero Lučin first thanked all the volunteers and all those involved in organizing the Games and the Rectors’ Conference. ‘The Games and the Rectors’ Conference are very important for Croatian sport and the academic community, and the process will help transform our university from the 2nd to the 3rd generation by stimulating economic growth and encouraging new ideas. In the last ten years, a lot has been done for this transformation, from developing the Campus, to connecting sciences and arts.’ It should be pointed out, Lučin said, that university sports play a crucial role in the development and advancement of the University.
The President of the Rectors’ Conference and the Rector of the University of Zagreb, Damir Boras, stressed that the EUG are the most important games in history, and that there is an intent to include sports activities into regular university programs. ‘Sport teaches us how to cross obstacles in our lives, and how to be proud in defeat and humble in victory. One very important task is in front of us– to convince the Croatian government to support university sports,’ he said.
The President of the EUG Zagreb – Rijeka 2016 and of the Croatian Academic Sports Federation, Zrinko Čustonja, congratulated everyone for a job well done, greeted all guests, and thanked them for the support they have offered and for the effort hey have put into drawing out the conclusions of the Rectors’ Conference, which will further the development of university sports and the dual careers of student athletes.
Lea Meister, the President of the European Students’ Union emphasized the benefits of sport, ranging from its relevance for young people’s health, to its importance as a socializing and inclusive factor. ‘Everyone is equal in sport, and sport should be available to everyone,’ Meister concluded.
Oleg Matytsin, the President of International University Sports Federation, pointed out that only the Olympic Games are larger than the European Universities Games, and that in the past, the winners of Olympic medals were also often the winners of university competitions. Sport teaches us fair play, humility, discipline, openness, communicativeness. Sport is the best tool for developing leadership skills. Therefore, in these kinds of competitions, students should be given the chance to use this as a gateway to other sport competitions. Also, Matytsin concluded, they should be educated about doping, so they understand that cheating is not permitted in any form.
Adam Roczek, the President of European University Sports Association, said he was pleased that the importance of university sports and the university’s positive role would be discussed at the Rectors’ Conference. When dual careers are concerned, we need to hold onto young talents and work with them, because – let us not forget – sports are an additional value for every university, Roczek said, and quoted Nelson Mandela – sport has the power to change the world.
Martine Rahier, the Vice-President of European University Sports Association, said that dual careers are challenging to balance, so these athletes should receive help in advancing their careers after they retire from sport. We should all work together to prepare student athletes for their professional future, after their sports careers end. Rahier thinks that more dual careers would lower the rate of young people abandoning their sport careers or studies.
These kinds of events are a great platform for including young people into the European community, Krešo Zadro, the assistant to the Minister of Science, Education and Sports, pointed out, and it is a great opportunity to demonstrate one’s skills and knowledge.
