November 2024

On November 16th, 2024, EAS was invited to the EUSA celebration of its 25th Anniversary at the monumental site of the University of Vienna, Austria. Th event was organized by the Austrian University Sports Organization and the University of Vienna. The EUSA President, Mr. Adam Roczek, welcomed the EUSA members, the local authorities, the invited guests, and the speakers.

The opening session included a video message by the Austrian Federal Ministry for for Education, Science and Research, Mr. Martin Polaschek, speeches by Prof. Nikolaus Hautsch, Vice-Rector of the University of Vienna and Mr. Leonz Eder, President of the International University Sports Federation contributed to the opening session, and a video message by Mr Spyros Capralos, President of the European Olympic Committees. In line with the Association’s aims of active lifestyles, Mr. Matjaz Pecovnik, EUSA Secretary General, engaged in a 20-min cycling during which he effectively presented the 25-year EUSA work, challenges, milestones, and achievements.

Mr. Lorenz Ursprung moderated the first panel addressing the role of sports in the future of European society. Mr. Adam Roczek, EUSA President; Mr. Leonz Eder, FISU President; Mrs. Filipa Godinho, Pro-Rector of the University of Coimbra; Mr. Michael Wiederer, President of the European Handball Federation; and Prof. Nikolaus Hautsch, Vice-Rector of the University of Vienna not only discussed numerous aspects of the crucial role of sports in higher education, but also envisioned possible development of university sport events and dual career as crucial strategies to implement the actual reality of students as sportspersons and the future life of European citizens. Furthermore, the panel highlighted the importance for higher educational institutions to increase their visibility through the participation in the EUSA University Games and Championships and the university dual career and sports policies. The video on the long-time promotion of healthy, active student community at the University of Vienna and the evidence of the EUSA Games legacy at the University of Coimbra further substantiated the relevance of the common efforts to enhance university sports in Europe. In this regard, the ERASMUS+Sport projects DiscoverU – Discovering university sport and supporting dual career (https://erasmus plus.ec.europa.eu/projects/search/details/101134052) coordinated by EUSA and Find Me – University Dual Career Opportunities (https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/projects/search/details/101134043) coordinated by the University of Nis could be extremely helpful to advance the European sport discourse at university level.

Mr. Arnold Baca, Head of the Centre for Sports Science and University Sports at the University of Vienna moderated the second panel focused on grassroots and healthy sports at higher institutions. Mr. Elmar Pichl, General Director for Universities in the Federal Ministry of Education, Science, and Research; Prof. Siegfried Walch, MCI Entrepreneurial School Innsbruck; and the athlete as student Ms. Julia Pocksteiner presented possible implementation of university sports to support the need of active lifestyles for the physical and mental health of nowadays students and future professionals.

The ceremony of the EUSA Annual Awards prized several institutions. The Most Active National University Sports Association award was given to the German University Sports Federation (ADH) (accepted by Mr Joerg Forster, President of ADH and founder of EAS), and to the French University Sports Federation (accepted by Mr Cedric Terret, President of the French University Sports Federation). The University of Zagreb received both the Best University Award and the Most Active University Award for winning the highest number of medals across the European Universities Championships and for participating with the highest of athletes (accepted by Prof. Jasenka Ostojic, Vice-Rector of the University of Zagreb; and by by Ms Sanja Curkovic, Vice President of the Zagreb Academic Sports Federation, respectively). Mr. Marin Furcic, (Director) received a Medal of Appreciations for the long-term professional management collaboration of Furki Sport with EUSA, whereas the women’s futsal team of the University of Coimbra was awarded the Enno Harms Fair Play Award, for its outstanding behaviour during an EUSA game in Split, Croatia (received by Mr Renato Daniel Simoes, and Mr Diogo Jorge Lopes from the Coimbra Academic Association).

More information is available at https://www.eusa.eu/outstanding-eusa-conference-2024-held-in-vienna

The 25th Anniversary Gala dinner was held at the Palais Liechtenstein in Vienna, during which the Vienna Opera Ball Orchestra and the Svabek Dance School offered suggestive performances in connection with such a magnificent location. At the end of the 25th year EUSA celebration, awards and gifts were exchanged to signify the long standing dedication in support of the European University Sports. In particular, Mr. Ants Veetousme (Past President of the Estonian Academic Sports Assication), and Prof. Yevgeniy Imas (posthumously – President of the Sports Students’ Union of Ukraine) were attributed the Order of Merit.

More information is available at https://www.eusa.eu/eusa-celebrates-25th-anniversary-with-remarkable-gala