2016 European Universities Games

3rd European Universities Games
Host city Zagreb & Rijeka
Country  Croatia
Motto Heart believes, mind achieves
Nations participating Students from 250 universities and 45 countries from Europe
Athletes participating 4000+
Events 21 sports
Opening ceremony July 12, 2016 (2016-07-12)
Closing ceremony July 24, 2016 (2016-07-24)
Website www.eug2016.com
<  2014 2018  >
The moment when Croatia won the bid for organizing EUG2016

The 2016 European University Games, also known as 2016 European Universiade, will be the third biannual European Universities Games (EUG), the largest European multisport event,[1] with over 4000 participants from 200 universities in 45 countries expected.[2] The event will take place in the Croatian cities of Zagreb and Rijeka between 13 and 24 July 2016,[3][4] and will be organised by European University Sports Association (EUSA) and Croatian Academic Sport Federation (CASF) with the cooperation of University of Zagreb, University of Rijeka, City of Rijeka, City of Zagreb and Ministry of Science, Education and Sports (Croatia).[4]

Bid selection

The host for the European Universities Games 2016 was decided on 1 June 2013 in Ljubljana, Slovenia, by the EUSA Executive Committee.[5] The two bids were Zagreb and Rijeka in Croatia, and Coimbra in Portugal.[5] The Croatian presentation was followed by a questions and answers session, and the same system applied also for the Portuguese delegation with the bidding city of Coimbra, which came next.[4]

The Croatian delegation was led by Gordan Kozulj, the Chairman of the Bidding Committee, and other members of the delegation were Zeljko Jovanovic, Minister of Science, Education and Sports; Pero Lucin, Rector of the University of Rijeka; Petra Radetic, President of Student Council of the University of Zagreb; Jelena Pavicic Vukicevic, Deputy Mayor of the City of Zagreb and Zrinko Custonja, the President of the Croatian University Sports Federation (CASF).[5] The Portuguese delegation was composed of Mr Ricardo Morgado, the Chairman of the Bidding Committee; Mr Emidio Guerreiro, Secretary of State for Sport and Youth; Mr Joao Gabriel Silva, Rector of the University of Coimbra; Mr Joao Barbosa De Melo, Mayor of Coimbra; Mr Bruno Barracosa, the President of the Academic University Sports Federation of Portugal (FADU) and Mr Tiago Martins, Vice-President of the Students Council of the University of Coimbra.[5]

Before the announcement of the winning city was done, EUSA President Roczek stressed the quality of both bids and presentations, and then announced '"The 3rd European Universities Games in 2016 will be organised in: Zagreb-Rijeka in Croatia"[4] Coimba in Portugal was later chosen to host the European Universities Games 2018.[6]

Tradition of university sports in Croatia

The first student sports club was founded 112 years ago at the University of Zagreb. The Federation of Academic Sports Clubs at the University of Zagreb was founded 92 years ago. Mandatory physical education classes were introduced in Croatian universities 52 years ago. Twenty eight years ago the first University Games, also known as Universiade was organized in Zagreb. The Croatian Academic Sports Federation was founded 22 years ago. Organized primarily as a cultural and a social event, the 1987 Universiade in Zagreb helped bring infrastructural renaissance to the capital city of Croatia and created the prerequisites for the significant advancement of Croatian sport as a whole.[7][2]

Sport events on EUG2016

The 2016 European University Games programme featured 21 sports including Compulsory sports (8), Optional sports (11), Demo sports programme and Para university games.[4]

Verbal and visual identity of EUG2016

Verbal identity: motto

The slogan Hearth believes, mind achieves, proclaims idea of dualism, which is integrated in the very proposal of the dual candidature of Zagreb and Rijeka, and its basic idea is officially explained as follows: "The slogan is the basic concept of the synergy of the heart and mind, two mighty organs of great contrast; however only through their joint work it is possible to achieve the proper functioning of the human body. The concept of dualism and synergy of the heart and mind, promote all the key values that student sports represent: ratio, education, prudence, strength, energy, fighting spirit and love – characteristics that help young people achieve excellence in their academic and athletic lives. The slogan also rests on the concepts of faith as a motivator, and achievement as a result of the successful sports activity. Both concepts represent important elements of sports – faith in one self and one’s own capabilities, faith in victory, the achievement of results, the worthiness of persistence and in vested effort."[8]


Visual identity: logo

The author of the visual identity is Croatian graphic designer Jurica Dolić, who described his solution as follows: "The visual identity embodies the verbal identity aspect by incorporating the symbol of the heart (shape, red colour) and mind (circle, blue colour). It also embodies a number of other symbols which have an exceptional importance for the candidature of Zagreb and Rijeka: Colours – red, white and blue are the representative colours of Croatian national symbols. Red is the colour of Rijeka, while blue is the representative colour of Zagreb. Shapes – white shapes (inside the blue circle) symbolize the number 16 (year of holding the Games – 2016). Furthermore, these shapes denote the silhouette of “Zagi” (the exceptionally popular mascot of the Zagreb Universiade from 1987), and in the combination with the red colour of the heart portrays a flame as the symbol of the sporting and Olympic spirit."[8]

The mascot

After public voting, the figure of hamster became an official mascote of EUG2016. Final selection of the mascot is the result of the selection process that began in September 2014, after which at an open call 64 applications with mascot suggestions arrived. Nine-member jury selected three finalists that were presented to the public who was offered the opportunity to make a final decision of the EUG 2016 mascot in the second round of the competition. The winning suggestion was the one by Croatian authors Vedran Rede and Matija Tomšić who created the mascot of hamster, suggesting that it is important to participate and not always to win.[9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Oxford’s Women Lightweight Rowers are European Universities Champions!". Oxford University Sport. 6 August 2014. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Zagreb-Rijeka To Host European Universities Games In 2016". Croatia Week. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  3. ↑ "Hrčak maskota Univerzijade, još mu samo treba dati ime" (in Croatian). Vecernji.hr. 27 January 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "European Universities Games Zagreb-Rijeka 2016". European University Sports Association (EUSA). Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "European Universities Games 2016 and 2018". FISU. 7 June 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  6. ↑ "European Universities Games Coimbra 2018". European University Games. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  7. ↑ "Our Inspiration" (in Croatian). European University Games. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  8. 1 2 "European Universities Games Zagreb-Rijeka 2016". European University Games. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  9. ↑ "Maskota" (in Croatian). European University Games. Retrieved 27 February 2015.

External links

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