FUNCHAL – The members of the EUSA Executive Committee convened for their second meeting in 2013 in Funchal, Madeira on 15 March 2013. The meeting was held just before the EUSA Conference and General Assembly, which were organised on Friday 15 March and Saturday 16 March in the same location.
Mr Bruno Barracosa, President of FADU, first welcomed the members of the EUSA Executive Committee and invited members to Madeira, and wished them a fruitful and productive meeting. EUSA President Mr Adam Roczek thanked Mr Barracosa for the invitation and for hosting the meeting in Funchal.
The first point on the agenda was the presentation of the final report of the 1st European Universities Games, which were held in Cordoba, Spain between 13 and 23 July last year. The Rector of the University of Cordoba, Mr José Manuel Roldán Nogueras stressed that the event was fully supported by the University, and shared his positive personal experiences and engagement in the event. Mr Rifaat Chabouk, Operational Manager of the Games, presented the technical part of the report, pointing out that over 2,500 participants from over 250 universities across Europe had enjoyed the competitions held in 10 sports at the EUSA Games, which was reflected in the participants’ survey carried out after the event. EUSA President Mr Roczek thanked the delegation from Cordoba for their presentation and their work before, during and after the event, congratulating them on organising a great event.
EUSA president Roczek,vice-presidents Eder and Matytsin and secretary-general Pecovnik
The Executive Committee Members were then acquainted with the progress reports of the 2nd European Universities Games, which will be organised in the summer of 2014 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Mr Henk Smit, Tournament Director, presented the latest updates in the preparation of the event, emphasising the support and commitment of the Erasmus University and the City of Rotterdam in delivering this event.
After the report regarding the 2nd EUSA Games, EUSA Secretary Mr Matjaz Pecovnik presented the situation regarding the bidding process for the third edition of the Games, to be held in 2016. Out of the five candidates who have initially expressed interest in organising the Games, two candidate cities – Zagreb-Rijeka, Croatia, and Coimbra, Portugal – have met all the requirements and submitted the bidding dossiers. The 2016 EUSA Games will be attributed at the next Executive Committee on 1 June in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
On behalf of the Technical Commission, chaired by Mrs Ivana Ertlova, Mr Patrik Perosa, EUSA Sports manager, introduced the progress report of this year’s European Universities Championships. The 17 events held in 2013 will start already in May with badminton. Although the official deadline for registration in some of the sports has officially expired, due to popular demand in some sports (especially futsal and football), the registration will be re-opened to allow teams to register and enlarge the events. The Executive Committee also attributed the remaining three 2015 European Universities Championships, which now complete the sports programme for that year. In 2015, the Polish capital Warsaw will host the European Universities Championships in badminton and bridge, and rugby 7’s will be held in Godollo, Hungary.
FISU delegates Bergh and Briel
The floor was then given to the representatives of the International University Sports Federation (FISU), Mr Stefan Bergh, Vice-President and Chair of the Committee for the Development of University Sport (CDSU), and Mr Laurent Briel, Director of Development and Special Projects. Mr Bergh thanked EUSA for the invitation, pointing out good cooperation between the federations, stressing the active role of EUSA as the Continental Federation recognised by and affiliated with FISU. Together with Mr Briel, he presented the CDSU plans for the future as well as the requirements and guidelines planned for future projects. The discussion was then focused on the proposals regarding the branding of continental organisations affiliated with FISU.
An important focus of the meeting was the final preparations for the EUSA Conference and the General Assembly, and the Executive Committee members also discussed and confirmed some internal rules and regulations, defining the procedures and regulations of the organisation and EUSA sporting events, and establishing Club of Donors. The meeting was concluded by recognising the important agreement which was made between EUSA and the European Handball Federation (EHF).
(Source: EUSA)