The European Universities Games of 2024 will be hosted between 12-24 July 2024 by Debrecen University, Miskolc University, the municipal governments of the two cities, and the Hungarian Universities and Colleges Sports Association (MEFS). It is important to notice that the closing programme of the 12-day long sports event will be on the first day of Campus Festival.
The parties regularly discuss the steps and status of the organization process. The current discussion was held on Thursday and Friday in the recently inaugurated, ultramodern headquarters of the Athletic Club of Debrecen University (DEAC).
The meeting was attended by senior representatives of the EUSA, including its Secretary General, Sports Manager and Project Manager, and by members and experts of the Hungarian Universities and Colleges Sports Association, the Hungarian National Event Organizing Agency, the Sport-Events and the organizing committees of Debrecen University and Miskolc University.
During the meeting, several reports were presented on the status and upcoming tasks of marketing and brand, healthcare concept, the organization of the accreditation, security issues, transportation, and accommodation.
The delegation also toured the competition venues of the Universities Games and several accommodations in Debrecen.
Matjaž Pečovnik, Secretary General of EUSA thanked the organizers from Debrecen and Miskolc for their work and expressed his joy that chess was included in the competition as the 17th sport.
- We will soon open the registration for the Games, this is why this meeting with the Hungarian organizers was important for us. In my opinion, the organization progressed a lot in the past weeks, and everything is given to ensure that the competitions of 2024 be the best EUG so far. I am looking forward to the upcoming period and the event with great anticipation – the Secretary General said.
Matjaž Pečovnik added that he was confident Hungary would be able to host the summer Universiade or even the Olympics sooner or later, since the sports community had acknowledged the growth and the possibilities in the country.
Even coordinator Kata Varga said there had been progress in determining the venues, sport branches, time slots, and the number of participants.
- Now our main tasks are to prepare the sport branches, set up the appropriate professional staff and the volunteers’ team, and to finalize cooperation in the fields of accommodation, venues, and catering – the coordinator from Debrecen University said, adding that a volunteer day will be organized for UD students at the Water Tower on 4 December, on the occasion of the International Volunteer Day.
After the discussion, László Balogh, head of the organizing committee of Debrecen and Director of the Institute of Sports Science Coordination of the University of Debrecen said the greatest progress in his opinion was that the National Event Organizing Agency joined the organization, and the organizing committee thus had a new structure.
- The tasks are being outlined more exactly. As we approach the date of the competition, we work together with, for example, the National Event Organizing Agency, the Hungarian Universities and Colleges Sports Association, and the organizers from the University of Miskolc, and our collaboration is effective and fruitful – László Balogh emphasized.
The next milestone of the organization will be the opening of the registration. European universities wishing to participate in the Games may register on the official website of the event starting from 15 December. Up to five thousand sports people representing 450 European higher education institutions may come to Hungary’s biggest multi-sports event.
Press Centre – PKZs
