3
rd
EUROPEAN UNIVERSITIES GAMESZAGREB-RIJEKA, CROATIA:
JULY 12–25, 2016
The summer of 2016 saw EUSA’s 3rd edition of the European Universities Games
organised in collaboration between the two Croatian cities of Zagreb and Rijeka.
The Mediterranean city of Rijeka and the
continental hub of Zagreb welcomed
participants from all over Europe to
experience Croatian culture as well as
to compete at the biggest sporting event
Croatia had ever hosted.
Inspired by the 1987 FISU Summer Univer-
siade which was held in Zagreb, a total of
21 sports were featured in 2016, including
two demonstrative sports and two sports
events for students with disabilities.
The EUG2016 Organising Committee was
chaired by Mr Zrinko Custonja, and the
event was organised in close cooperation
with the Croatian Academic Sports Fed-
eration (CASF), cities of Zagreb and Rijeka,
the Universities of Zagreb and Rijeka
together with the support of the Croatian
government.
Zagreb and Rijeka hosted 5408 par-
ticipants from 862 university teams,
representing 388 universities across
40 European countries, competing in
Badminton, Basketball, 3x3 Basketball,
Beach Volleyball, Bridge, Chess, Football,
Futsal, Golf, Handball, Judo, Karate, Row-
ing, Rugby 7s, Sport Climbing, Swimming,
Para Swimming, Table Tennis, Para Table
Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Volleyball and
Water Polo.For the first time in EUSA history, the
Games included sports for student ath-
letes with disabilities as an integral part of
the event. This would not have been possi-
ble without the commitment and support
of the European Paralympic Committee
(EPC) and cooperation between EUSA,
EPC, member federations and participat-
ing universities. Through the help of the
development fund offered by EUSA and
EUG2016 organisers, 27 universities from
9 countries in development were able
to send their student competitors to the
Games, taking part in 10 sports.Three sports welcomed over 500 partici-
pants: Rowing (510), followed closely by
Football and Futsal with 506 participants
each.Besides developing a programme of sports
hosted in over 50 venues in Zagreb and
Rijeka, organisers prepared rich cultural,
academic and social programmes for
all participants. Over the 14 days of the
event, there were different workshops,
conferences, trips, sightseeing and social
activities.During the Games, a Rectors’ Conference
also took place for the first time, bringing
about a joint Memorandum of Understand-
ing on University Sport.As part of the legacy of the Games, new
student accommodation buildings were
erected in Rijeka, while both dormitories
and student sports facilities were refur-
bished in Zagreb.