European university championships in Split are officially open!

European university championships in basketball 3x3, sport climbing and beach volleyball have been officially opened at the ceremony held at the Split Procuratives. Over 400 athletes came from 64 universities from 27 European countries. Parade of athletes, dance groups, video animation and video projection joined in the attractive performance introduced the citizens of Split and their guests to this multi-sport event that will take place at Split Riva, Poljud stadium and Žnjan beach this week.

Championships have been opened by the mayor of Split, Andro Krstulović Opara, the host and the co-organizer of the event, who pointed out wealthy sport tradition of the city of Split and experience in organizing sporting events. 

"I'm fully confident that the hosting of European Universities 3x3 Basketball, Sport Climbing and Beach Volleyball Championship will harvest not only new medals, but most importantly - new friendships, cooperation between universities, new competences and new experiences. This is the major worth of this event." said mayor Opara pointing out that the Split University Sport Association is the most active sport association in the country and "that exactly the university sport shall give new, healthy features to the existing Croatian sports system, both at national and local level.“

After the parade of athletes president of the organizational committee of EUSA Split 2017, prof. dr. sc. Boris Maleš, vice-rector for students, student standard and university sport pointed out that the City of Split and Croatia strongly position themselves at the map of university sport by organizing and participating at the various university sport events in the last couple of years.  Hoping that all the participants will go home with pleasant memories and emotions towards the city beneath the Marjan hill, he said: "I look forward to the day when you, someday, choose to return to Split – either as students at the University of Split as part of the Erasmus program or as dear guests together with their friends and families.

 In front of the holders of this event, European university sport association, Lorenz Ursprung expressed gratitude for the Organizational committee and the volunteers for preparing these events, pointing out that they "have put tremendous effort and passion into delivering an unforgettable event. Thank you! Dear athletes, team officials and referees! From now on, the championships are in your hands. Compete at your best. Respect your opponents. Meet them with an open heart, and enjoy the event and this beautiful city.

Volunteers that were in charge for the opening ceremony and the organization of the entire European university championship in Split, a total of 150,  were thanked several times by the organizers, also using the opportunity to call all the citizens of Split and their guests to visit basketball and sport climbing events at Riva and Poljud stadium until 28th of July, and beach volleyball at the Žnjan beach, until 30th of July.

The championships are held under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Croatia, and the organizers are Split University Sport Association, University of Split and the Croatian Academic Sport Association. Partners on these events are the City of Split, Split-Dalmatia county, Student centre at the University of split, Student assembly at the University of Split, Sports climbing club "Marulianus" and the beach volleyball club "Žnjan".