Tartu – In the evening of May 21st, the President of the Republic of Estonia Mr Toomas Hendrik Ilves opened the XXVI SELL Games with the latin sentence “Vivat! Crescat! Floreat!”
FISU Assessor Kairis UlpThe opening ceremony took place on Tartu’s song festival ground. In the beginning of the ceremony the procession with 78 universities from 15 countries marched into the festival ground. At the ceremony, mayor of Tartu Mr Urmas Kruuse, Estonian minister of education and research Mr Tõnis Lukas, president of Estonian Academic Sports Federation Mr Ants Veetõusme as well as FISU Executive Committee Member Mrs Kairis Ulp gave their greetings to sportsmen, organisers and volunteers. The flag of FISU was hoisted by the sports patron of the Games, successful beach volleyball payer Mr Kristjan Kais, who also has PhD degree from University of Tartu.
The competitions of the SELL Games began already in the morning of Friday, May 21st and lasted three days. Athletes competed in 11 sports: athletics, table tennis, basketball, chess, floorball, judo, powerlifting, mini-football, swimming, wrestling and volleyball.
Altogether, more than 1,500 student-athletes came to participate in the Games. The most participants were from the founding countries of the SELL Games – Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – but the furthermost delegation was from China.
The SELL Games are a tradition since 1923 and are the first regional student games in the world.
Photos can be found at:
http://gallery.kmzphoto.eu/thumbnails.php?album=68
http://gallery.kmzphoto.eu/displayimage.php?album=68&pos=11
(Source: Meelis Burget, SELL press secretary)
The President of Estonia, Mr. Toomad Hendrik Ilves
Estonan Academic Sports Fed. President. Mr Ants Veetõusme
(Photos: Kaimo)