Representatives from 400 universities across 40 countries arrived in Debrecen and Miskolc for the event. The European Universities Games (EUG) is one of the greatest multisport events in the world, in which athletes of European universities compete, representing their higher education institutions. The event is held in even-numbered years in university cities capable, in terms of infrastructure and organisational background, of hosting competitions for all 17 sports involved in the EUG.
In 2018, the European University Sports Association (EUSA) chose Debrecen and Miskolc to be joint hosts of the 6th European Universities Games. This year’s event is organized jointly by the Hungarian University Sports Federation (MEFS), the University of Debrecen, the University of Miskolc, the National Event Organizer Agency, as well as Debrecen and Miskolc.
Hungary is represented at the event by 22 higher education institutions, including the two host universities. Over 550 Hungarian athletes will compete in all the 17 sports, forming the largest delegation. The University of Debrecen is represented by 120 sportspeople in 13 sports and 20 officials (coaches, team managers).
At the opening ceremony held last Friday evening, Zita Horváth, Rector of the University of Miskolc said in the name of the two host universities that sports play a key role in strengthening the sense of belonging and community.
“Sports create value, and the games provide an opportunity for Miskolc and Debrecen to demonstrate their values through sports too,” the rector said.
Lajos Mocsai, President of MEFS, warmly welcomed the young representatives of university sports and emphasized in his speech that, like all multisport events, this one is not only about sports but also about community building.
“For students, performance and competition, whether in studies or sports, are just as important as the sense of community and belonging,” he emphasized.
Adam Roczek, President of EUSA, praised the organizers’ professional work and the high quality of the venues, noting that although the path was sometimes narrow, bumpy and seemed endless, it was a common dream to bring the games to Hungary.
At the opening ceremony held at the DVTK Arena in Miskolc, Balázs Hankó, Minister for Culture and Innovation, thanked EUSA and the organizers for their work, and encouraged the athletes.
“Let us show Europe what the Hungarian spirit is,” the minister said addressing the Hungarian youth, and then opened the 2024 European Universities Games.
After the athletes and referees took their oaths and the EUSA flag was hoisted, the 6th European Universities Games officially began in Miskolc and Debrecen.
University students have come from the following countries to participate in the Games: Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom.
Concerning the university delegations of Hungary, the biggest one is from the University of Debrecen, with 140 students. Besides UD, the participating universities are Budapest Business School (BGE), Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME), Corvinus University of Budapest (BCE), EDUTUS University (EDUTUS), Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), Eszterházy Károly Catholic University (EKKE), Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE), Hungarian University of Sports Science (MTSE), John von Neumann University (NJE), Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church (KRE), Kodolányi János University (KJE), National University of Public Service (NKE), Óbuda University (ÓE), Pázmány Péter Catholic University (PPKE), Semmelweis University (SE), Széchenyi István University (SZE), University of Miskolc (ME), University of Nyíregyháza (NYE), University of Pannonia (PE), University of Pécs (PTE), and University of Szeged (SZTE).
The students of the Hungarian universities compete in 3x3 basketball, badminton, basketball, beach handball, beach volleyball, chess, football, futsal, handball, judo, karate, kickboxing, taekwondo, table tennis, tennis, volleyball, and water polo.
More information about the sports, results, and daily reports can be found at www.eug2024.eu and on the event’s application.
EUG2024 Press Centre
