International multi - sport event in Zagreb
The Universiade (World University Games) is an International multi-sport event, organized for university athletes by the International University Sports Federation (FISU). The name is a combination of the words "University" and "Olympiad". The Universiade is often referred to in English as the World University Games or World Student Games.
The 1987 Summer Universiade
The 1987 Summer Universiade, also known as the XIV Summer Universiade, took place in Zagreb in SFR Yugoslavia (now Croatia). It involved participants from 111 countries and over 6,000 individual sportspersons and members of teams. The slogan was "World of the young for a World of Peace!".
Image credit: Helena Krajan Facebook page
Organized primarily as a cultural and a social event, the 1987 Universiade in Zagreb helped bring an infrastructural Renaissance to the capital city of Croatia and created the prerequisites for the significant advancement of Croatian sport as a whole. The city of Zagreb used the event to renovate and revitalize the city. The city's main square (Republic Square) was repaved with stone blocks and turned into a part of the downtown pedestrian zone. A part of the Medveščak stream, which had been running under the sewers since 1898, was uncovered by workers. This part formed the Manduševac fountain that was also covered in 1898. In three years of intensive construction about 130 facilities was built or updated, including the Croatian Radio Television, Cibona hall, water parks at Mladost and Salata, renovated stadiums Dinamo and Zagreb, students dorms Sava and Cvjetno, hotels Dubrovnik and Esplanade. The Mimara Museum was opened, tram ring in Novi Zagreb was built in Novi Zagreb and much, much more. Perhaps the greatest benefit of Zagreb and its citizens was a fantastic place on Jarun because they get all - a place for sports development and also residents for recreation and leisure.
Image credit: Portal hrvatskog kulturnog vijeća, hkv.hr
The mascot "Zagi"
The mascot of the 1987 Summer Universiade was the popular squirrel nicknamed Zagi, which was created by Nedeljko Dragić – one of the most creative authors of the Zagreb School of Animated Film. The mascot was a squirrel, a resident of Zagreb's parks, amiable and always in a good mood. Its nonchalance and gaiety are a cover for diligence. Always on the move and reaching for the seemingly impossible, the squirrel embodies the dynamism of athletic endeavor. Its origin is shown by the little black hat, characteristic of the folk costumes in the region of Zagreb.
The 2016 European University Games
Next year we are expecting another big sports event in Zagreb. 5000 students from 45 European countries and 250 different universities will compete in 21 different sports and will be part of the most beautiful sports story ever told in Croatia! The 2016 European University Games, also known as 2016 European Universiade, will be the third biannual European Universities Games (EUG), the largest European multisport event. The event will take place in the Croatian cities of Zagreb and Rijeka between 13 and 24 July 2016. Organizers are European University Sports Association (EUSA) and Croatian Academic Sport Federation (CASF) with the cooperation of University of Zagreb, University of Rijeka, City of Rijeka, City of Zagreb and Ministry of Science, Education and Sports.
Image credit: EUG Zagreb-Rijeka 2016 Facebook page
The slogan "Hearth believes, mind achieves", proclaims the idea of dualism, which is integrated in the very proposal of the dual candidature of Zagreb and Rijeka. The slogan is the basic concept of the synergy of the heart and mind, two mighty organs of great contrast. However, only through their joint work it is possible to achieve the proper functioning of the human body. The concept of dualism and synergy of the heart and mind promote all the fundamental values that student sports represent: ratio, education, prudence, strength, energy, fighting spirit and love – characteristics that help young people achieve excellence in their academic and athletic lives. The slogan also rests on the concepts of faith as a motivator, and achievement as a result of the successful sports activity. Both ideas represent essential elements of sports – faith in oneself and one’s own capabilities, confidence in victory, the achievement of results, the worthiness of persistence and invested effort."
New mascot is hamster
After public voting, the figure of hamster became an official mascot of EUG2016. The winning suggestion was the one by Croatian authors Vedran Rede and Matija Tomšić who created the mascot of a hamster, suggesting that it is important to participate and not always to win.
Image credit: EUG Zagreb-Rijeka 2016
We can't wait for this unique event in Croatia! More information about European University Games 2016 can be found on official website http://eug2016.com/.
Header image credit: EUG Zagreb-Rijeka 2016 Facebook page
Author: Sanja Kočiš