BUDAPEST – Around 50.000 students participated in 129 sport events during the day, at 27 universities, to celebrate the first ‘International Day of University Sport’, #IDUS2016.
The Mayor’s Office of the capital city of Budapest remarkably supported the International Day of University Sport, in preparation for the Budapest Sports Capital of Europe series of events, 2019.
Under the patronage of mayor István Tarlós, Prof. Miklós Réthelyi, president of the UNESCO’s Hungarian National Committee and Dr. Tünde Szabó, Minister of State for Sport of the Ministry of Human Capacities, Hungary celebrated the International Day of University Sport worthy with all-day event series.
The HUSF and the National Union of Students in Hungary cooperating with the Budapest University of Technology an Economics, organized the opening ceremony of the event at the sports complex of the university, where Dr. Tünde Szabó highlighted in her speech that the purpose of this day is to show the importance of university sport, with the message that physique is just as important as intellectual preparedness.
At the end of the ceremony Prof. Dr. Ádám Kiss (president, HUSF) and Tibor Gulyás (president, National Union of Students in Hungary) opened the first International Day of University Sport by letting colorful balloons fly off up into the sky. The balloons represented all the universities nationwide that joined the initiative and organized as colorful and various events as the balloons.
As it was Rector’s day at most of the participating institutions, altogether 50,000 students participated in the all-day event series. Moreover, at many universities, like Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) Budapest, the sports day was organized for teachers and instructors as well.
A special event was organized by ELTE, an ‘inclusive’ sports day, where participants could try para sports, like blind football, wheelchair basketball and volleyball and play together with disabled students.
In Budapest, students were offered the opportunity to participate in 47 kinds of sports events, supplementary events covering healthy lifestyle as well as funny contests organized by 11 institutions. Outside Budapest, students could compare their knowledge and abilities at 82 events provided by 16 institutions.
The ‘Campus 3athlon’ sponsored by the Hungarian Lottery was also a great success. On 36 locations, an average of 1,000 students per institution took part in it.
The Hungarian University Sports Federation welcomed the representatives of two partner university sports federations: Piotr Marszal representing AZS Poland and Vince Mayne, BUCS CEO. Both our international guests took part in the 31th ‘5vös5’ running competition and in a 1 km long Charity Health Walk. The 952 participants of the Walk – professors, students, rectors together with employees of partner companies and other citizens – conveyed the message of the sports day by walking for health and the promotion of university sports.
A Gala Night closed the day, organized by the Universiade Champions Club in Stefania Palace. Over 100 guests from universities, NOC, sports federations, student sports organizations and the members of the Universiade Champions Club celebrated the idea of ‘Excellence in Mind and Body’ there. The welcome speeches were complemented by shows given by the ELTE Folkdance Group and the UTE Sports Club Taekwondo department.
The highlight of the day was the ‘For Promoting University Sport’ award ceremony, founded by the Universiade Champions’ Club. The prizes were presented by 7-time Universiade Champion Márta Egerváry and 6-time Universiade Champion Tímea Nagy, president of the Universiade Champions’ Club. Outstanding athletes were given recognition for their selfless assistance in promoting university sports by standing as an example to students. Earlier this year, they motivated many students to live a healthier lifestyle by being the faces of the ’Move It! 3×45 minutes of sport a week can change your life’ campaign.
Award Winners
Bernadett Heidum, short track speed skater, European Champion, 7x National Champion, Universiade silver and bronze medalist, student of the Budapest Metropolitan University
Abigél Joó, judoka, 2x European Champion, 7x National Champion, Universiade Champion, Olympic 5th and 7th, graduated student (2016) of the Szent István University
László Cseh, swimmer, multiple Olympic silver and bronze medalist, World and European Champion, 3x Universiade Champion, 100x National Champion, student of the Budapest University of Technology and Economics
(Source: HUSF)