Croatian city Rijeka was the host of the closing ceremony of the European University Games tonight. The Games that were held from July 12 to 25 in Zagreb and Rijeka were the largest by its size and number of participants so far in the history of the university games in the old continent. More that 6000 students who participated in competitions in the last 14 days, on sports fields in Rijeka and Zagreb, walked today for the last time to represent 409 universities from 41 European countries.
“This big story is coming to an end in the best possible way. All l students will return to their homes with beautiful memories. The story of our country will spread to all parts of Europe, and we are proud of it. The European University Games have achieved and exceeded its goals regarding some participants and the success of the entire organization. The Games made many great things alongside the competition itself – now we have a newly built student dormitory in Rijeka and renovated ones in Zagreb”- said Haris Pavletić, the Vice President of the Organizing Committee of the ESI2016.
Students, athletes, proudly marched in front of a large audience after they had the opportunity to compete in 24 different sports and gathered almost two thousand medals.
“Rijeka, Zagreb, and Croatia in general, can be proud of the great success of the Games. We connected thousands of people in the name of sport; we created one big family and organized the best European University Games in history. “- said Roczek Adam, president of the European organization of academic sports.
The Games that started with a grand opening at the Mladost Stadium in Zagreb were closed in Rijeka today. With this event, the Games that are considered the biggest sports event in Croatia, are now officially closed. We can’t wait for more of the games in our country, but we’ll all count the days until 2018 when these amazing students will give their best to show what they can do at the 4th Games in Portugal.
