The Opening Ceremony of EUC Basketball 2025 took place on Sunday, 6 July, in Bologna at Aula Magna Santa Lucia, one of the most iconic venues of the University of Bologna.

The ceremony officially launched the event, held from July 6 to 13, ushering in a week of thrilling competition, commitment, and sportsmanship, with Bologna taking center stage as the heart of European Universities Basketball.

The Ceremony was attended by the representatives of the highest authorities of the University of Bologna, the Municipality of Bologna, and the Emilia-Romagna Region, together with the Consuls of Romania, Norway, Croatia, and the Netherlands. The representatives of FEDERCUSI (Italian University Sports Federation), FIP (Italian Basketball Federation), and Sport e Salute were also present.

On behalf of the Organising Committee, participants were welcomed by Giulia Cicchine, a renowned sports journalist and TV presenter with deep expertise in basketball, Elisabetta Tassinari, and Valerio Cucci, professional basketball players and former players for the University of Bologna. Both won European Universities titles with the Alma Mater Studiorum.

After the team parade, Professor Giovanni Molari, Rector of the University of Bologna, Matteo Lepore, Major of Bologna, and EUSA Treasurer Francis Cirianni addressed all participants and wished all the teams who came to test their skills and abilities well ahead of the start of the competition, while also thanking the Organising Committee for all their contributions.

The European Universities Basketball Championship is licensed by EUSA and organized by the Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna through its sports body, CUSB, under the patronage of: MUR – Ministry of University and Research, Emilia-Romagna Region, Municipality of Bologna, Sport e Salute, CONI, FederCusi, Italian Basketball Federation, Lega Basket Serie A, National Basketball League, and Women’s Basketball League. Media & Communication partners: Radio Nettuno Bologna Uno, NIMH agency, and Laboratorio delle Idee. The success of this major sporting event is made possible thanks to the support of sponsors: Macron, Hera, Technogym, Matteiplast, Grand Tour Italia, Sercom, and Plastic Free.

The Championship will take place from 6 July to 13 July in Bologna. The venues for all the matches will be the Record University Sports Centre, the Palacus University Sports Centre, and the Deborah Alutto Sports Centre.

The Opening Ceremony featured a vibrant and spirited march pass, where athletes proudly showcased their team colors and celebrated their participation in the prestigious European Universities Basketball Championship with enthusiasm and unity. The competition will host more than 400 athletes from as many as 22 universities from 16 countries.

EUSA is represented by EUSA Honorary Member and SCAC Chair Peter George, the Technical Delegate, Pascale Weiwers, Matthias Oehlmann, Assistant Technical Delegate, Liam Smith, EUSA Director of Sports Events, Miha Zvan, EUSA Sport Manager, and Vlaho Ljubic, EUSA Results Supervisor. They will make sure that the event runs smoothly and without problems.

The title of European Universities Basketball Champion is defended by the University of Bologna (Italy) in the women's tournament and Vytautas Magnus University (Kaunas, Lithuania) in the men's tournament.

Prior to the Opening Ceremony, on 6 July, the General Technical Meeting took place, hosting the draws for the men's and women's tournaments.

The historic Aula Magna di Santa Lucia provided a magnificent setting for the team parade, where delegations proudly waved their flags, creating a truly international and celebratory atmosphere.

In line with EUSA’s commitment to sustainability, organisers implemented several eco-friendly initiatives, including reusable water bottles and refill stations, and waste separation zones across the competition venues.

More information can be found at https://basketball2025.eusa.eu