You know histories of countries, history of the Olympic Games, World Cup and other major competitions in your favorite sports. Perhaps, if you are a University sport fanatic you would know his history in your own country, but one case is really special. SELL Games that started in Estonia is almost as old as the country itself.

First edition of the competition which is among the longest in Europe first took place 95 years ago, in 1923, just five years after the Estonian independence and it is the most famous sport event in that country. 

The students of Tartu University grounded their own sports club in 1908. Estonian Academic Sports club joined all Estonian student sportsmen in the young Republic of Estonia. In 1923 first regional student competitions were launched that later became known as SELL Games (first letters of Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in the respective languages).

Before the World War II 13 summer and 5 winter SELL Games were organized, along with 3 chess tournaments. After the war the ties between the Baltic countries were cut because of the Soviet Union.

In 1991 Estonia became an independent state again and shortly afterwards the Estonian Academic Sports Federation (EASF) was founded. In 1997 the EASF organized the meeting of the representatives of four states and it was agreed that the tradition of the SELL Games should be restored. 75 years had passed from the first games when in the spring of 1998 next SELL Summer Games were held in Tartu with 800 athletes from 59 universities of 13 states participating. The Estonian student body restored its status of initiating and co-ordinating student competitions.

This years SELL Games were really special. They celebrated 100 years of Estonian independence and 95 years since the first edition of the Games was organized. Every year, Games are held in a different Baltic country and we only wish them to grew even bigger and to host thousands of athletes.