The magnificent eleven of the European Universities Games Zagreb-Rijeka 2016 are the best examples of the synergy between first-rate education and professional sports and of dual academic and sport careers. This synergy is promoted by the EUG 2016 and the Croatian Academic Sports Federation. A number of Croatian professional athletes can be found at the EUG offices in Zagreb and Rijeka: two women handball players, two women basketball players, a woman athlete, a woman biathlete, two karateists, a judoka, a swimmer and a gymnast- every last one of them top Croatian athletes.
The Croatian team agrees that to fit together sport and education you need discipline, hard work, effort, sacrifice and good organization, but that nothing is difficult if you do what you love.
They expect the Games to be spectacular and an extraordinary event, also they encourage the competitors to do their utmost on the field, to compete in the spirit of fair-play, to enjoy our hospitality and unity, to make new contacts and friendships and to immerse themselves into the experience of the European Universities Games Zagreb – Rijeka 2016.
Besim Aliti – Karate (member of the national team)
Besim Aliti: ‘I expect the Games to be an outstanding sporting, sociocultural and academic manifestation which will portray university sport in the best possible light and which will lay the groundwork for the future growth of university sport in Croatia which in turn will promote the principle of dual careers and will be the pillar of the growth of Croatian sport.’
Maida Arslanagić – Handball (member of the national team)
Maida Arslanagić: ‘I expect that at the Games there will be a lot of hard work, fun and connecting with other people. Every competition brings new experiences, meeting new people and cultures. Because of this I encourage all competitors to enjoy themselves, practice fair-play and to finish the Games with the least possible number of injuries. We hope that the competitors will leave Croatia with positive impressions and that they will gladly return to our beautiful country.’
Danira Bilić – Basketball (Olympian)
Danira Bilić: ‘The 1987 Summer Universiade, at which I participated as an 18-year-old, was a big encouragement for my sport career and it left indelible memories of friendships with young people from all over the world. I wish that the young competitors at the Games be enriched in a similar way and that our country makes new friends.’
Katarina Maloča Mrčela – Basketball (member of the national team)
Katarina Maloča Mrčela: ‘My main strong suit as a basketball player was my game vision and I take pride in the same trait even today in the organization of sporting events, including the EUG. For me, life is one big match.’
Gordan Kožulj – Swimming (Olympian)
Gordan Kožulj: ‘I hope that all participants will immerse themselves completely in the experience of the EUG that we prepared for them. I hope they will compete enthusiastically against athletes from all over Europe, visit the best that the Rijeka-Mediterranean and the vibrant Zagreb can offer and then party with us till the early hours of the morning.’
Maja Fijačko – Athletics (member of the national team)
Maja Fijačko: ‘I participated at the 2007 Universiade in Bangkok and at the 2009 Universiade in Belgrade and I have great memories from both competitions because of the unity you feel at this kind of sporting events. Many sports, many people, many experiences… I wish the competitors to do their utmost and for the Games to be a fond memory for them.’
Sandra Stojković – Handball (member of the national team), photo by Roni Brmalj
Sandra Stojković Hinić: ‘All the people taking part in the organization of the Games were given the chance to be a part of something that they will remember for a long time, that will open new horizons, enable them to learn about new cultures, people and languages, and that will give young people from all over Europe the chance to meet in the same place for the same reason- to enjoy themselves.’
Krunoslava Kauzlarić – Biathlon (member of the national team)
Krunoslava Kauzlarić: ‘Above all else I expect an outstanding sporting and academic event, changes for the better and a higher standard for all our young student athletes. I hope that at this kind of events Croatian university sport will create better grounds for the upbringing and education of top-grade athletes and make the challenge of the transition to the work force easier.’
Luka Leško – Judo (member of the national team)
Luka Leško: ‘I expect from the biggest sporting event since Croatian independence to be a big spectacle and not just in terms of sport, but also socioculturally and in terms of education. I expect it because this is an event at which a big number of future professional athletes and business leaders will participate. I encourage the athletes to represent their universities and countries in the spirit of fair-play and to lead by example down the right path that sport should take’.
Goran Lučin – Karate (member of the national team)
Goran Lučin: ‘With good organization, willingness, persistence and a clear goal in mind only the sky is the limit. I encourage the competitors to have fun, to take delight in movement and to make new contacts that they could benefit from in the future, in their personal and professional lives.’
Marijo Možnik – Gymnastics (member of the national team), photo by Red Bull content pool
Marijo Možnik: ‘I expect that the organization of the Games will be above par and that all participants will take home beautiful memories. I hope that people will talk about the Games for the next 30 years as has been the case with the 1987 Summer Universiade – everybody still knows who Zagi is. I believe that our Hrki will also become a well known character. I wish all participants luck and success at the Games, but I also encourage them to take the chance to discover Zagreb and Rijeka and to have fun.’
