The European University Sports Association (EUSA) brought together its Technical Delegates (TDs), representatives of the Organising Committees (OCs) of the European Universities Championships 2027, and invited guests for the EUSA Convention 2026, held from 5 to 8 November in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia.

Hosted at the Ramada Hotel & Suites, the Convention provided an opportunity to strengthen cooperation, exchange knowledge and experiences, and further coordinate preparations for the upcoming European Universities Championships in 2027.

Over several days, participants took part in introductory activities, presentations, practical workshops, discussions and individual meetings, focusing on different aspects of university sports event organisation and delivery.

The programme began on 5 November, focusing on introductions, team-building and establishing a common understanding of the roles and responsibilities of those involved in EUSA's sporting activities.

Participants started with informal introductions through sports at Sports Hall Vitranc, providing an opportunity to connect in an active and relaxed setting. The afternoon continued with dedicated sessions for Technical Delegates.

The welcome and introductory session was coordinated by Liam Smith, Director Sports Events and Sara Rozman Director Education & Operations / COO, who guided participants through introductions, an interactive Kahoot activity and an overview of EUSA.

Miha Zvan, EUSA Sports Manager, presented the objectives of the Technical Delegates' Day and the Convention as a whole, outlining the key topics, expected outcomes, and the importance of bringing together Technical Delegates to exchange knowledge, share experiences, and discuss matters related to the organisation and further development of EUSA sports events.

The following session addressed EUSA's expectations, the roles and responsibilities of Technical Delegates, and the importance of clear coordination throughout the championship preparation and delivery process. Next, Marin Furcic, President of Furki Sport, introduced EUSA’s results management system, followed by an open discussion that encouraged Technical Delegates to share their views, ideas, and suggestions for further improvements, with particular emphasis on strengthening cooperation and communication between the system’s developers and the Technical Delegates.

The programme also included experiences and practical insights from Technical Delegates, shared by Technical Delegate for Karate Luka Pozgaj, for Rowing, Agata Zieleniewska, and for 3x3 Basketball, Jeanine Tijn-A-Sioe. 

Friday, 6 November, was dedicated to the EUC 2027 Convention, bringing together representatives of the Organising Committees and EUSA for a comprehensive programme of presentations and knowledge exchange.

The official opening featured a welcome address by Haris Pavletic, EUSA President, who welcomed the participants, highlighted the importance of bringing together representatives of the European university sport community, and emphasised the value of continued cooperation, knowledge exchange, and joint efforts in further developing university sport across Europe.

The opening was followed by an introduction to EUSA and its activities by Matjaz Pecovnik, EUSA Secretary General. The session continued with an interactive round-table discussion, during which participants shared their personal perspectives, experiences, and views on what EUSA is, what it represents, and what it means to the different groups involved in its activities. 

The programme continued with a presentation of the Give Sport a Say initiative by Andrej Pisl, EUSA Director of Projects and Policy, and Education Officer Milia Molinie, highlighting EUSA's work in strengthening student representation and participation in sport-related decision-making.

A central part of the day was dedicated to two parallel Good Examples Workshops, designed to share practical knowledge and experiences from previous university sports events, with the general organisational workshop, coordinated by Liam Smith, focusing on several key areas of championship management.

Gyorgy Kovacs, OC representative of the European Universities Championship in Volleyball 2025, presented examples related to Organising Committee structures, while  Aleksandra Andreeva, EUSA Sports Administrator, addressed financial management and registrations.

Jordi Mercade and Alicia Lara Garcia, from the Organising Committee of the European Universities Games 2030 and EUC Beach Sports 2025, shared insights into key event services, and Valeria Taraborrelli, OC of EUC Basketball 2025, focused on social media, photography and live streaming aspects.

In parallel, the sports-focused workshop explored key aspects of sporting operations, including EUSA’s results management system, presented by Furki Sport, and relations with European and national sports federations, addressed by Pol Arnan Rimbau, representative of the Organising Committee of EUC Badminton in 2025.

Jelena Matesic, Sports Director of the Croatian Academic Sports Federation, presented sport and venue management insights, while Tomasz Aftanski, Technical Delegate for Futsal, shared the vision behind refereeing and its essential role in ensuring the smooth and effective delivery of competitions.

The workshops offered Organising Committees an opportunity to learn from established practices, exchange perspectives and gain practical insights to support their preparations for the 2027 Championships.

Following the morning sessions, participants enjoyed the natural surroundings of Kranjska Gora through an afternoon #BeActive walk to Lake Jasna. The day concluded with the official Convention dinner.

The third and last day of the EUSA Convention 2026 focused on the individual preparations of the Organising Committees hosting the European Universities Championships in 2027. Progress report presentations allowed different groups of organisers, TDs and EUSA Office members to discuss and share common achievements and challenges.

The morning was dedicated to presentations by the respective Organising Committees of the European Universities Championships in Badminton, Chess, Rugby 7s, Handball, 3x3 Basketball, Rowing, Futsal, Volleyball, Padel, Beach Sports, Tennis, Powerlifting, Basketball, Football, Table Tennis, Aquatics, Athletics and Orienteering, as well as the European Universities Winter Games to be held in Erzurum in 2028.

These presentations provided an opportunity to introduce their plans, preparations and key organisational aspects of their upcoming events, as well as a platform for asking questions and diving deeper into the plans and organisational formats of the events. The presentations were followed by dedicated meetings between the Organising Committees and Technical Delegates, allowing for more detailed discussions on sport-specific requirements, operational arrangements and further steps in the preparation process.

The Convention concluded with a joint session bringing participants together for final remarks and conclusions. The afternoon remained open for additional meetings and discussions, with time for all EUSA TDs, Organising Committees and EUSA Office members to individually gather and review specific details of their events.

The programme concluded with a closing party, providing a final opportunity for participants to connect and exchange experiences in an informal setting.

The EUSA Convention 2026 served as an important platform for coordination, professional development and cooperation within European university sport. By bringing together EUSA representatives, Technical Delegates and Organising Committees, the event provided an opportunity to establish a shared understanding of expectations, encourage the exchange of good practices and support the successful delivery of the European Universities Championships 2027.

Through the contributions of EUSA representatives, workshop facilitators and Organising Committee members, the gathering in Kranjska Gora marked another important step in the preparations for the upcoming Championships, reinforcing cooperation and strengthening the foundations for another successful edition of European university sport.

For more information about EUSA European Universities Championships and the 2027 programme, please visit EUSA Championships events page.