In this edition of the What's Up column, three international volunteers share their personal experiences from the European Universities Games.

Through their stories, they reflect on the people they met, the moments they captured, and the skills they developed while working behind the scenes of one of Europe's largest university sporting events. Their perspectives offer an authentic glimpse into volunteering, teamwork, and the unique atmosphere that made EUG 2026 an unforgettable experience.

Aleksandra Marczewska from Poland

I knew nothing about sport. Until that week, I hadn’t even known that volleyball could last for more than three sets. I had always assumed that if a team won 2–1, that was the end of the match. I knew nothing about padel or badminton either. When it came to football, I knew that Cristiano Ronaldo played it. And beach volleyball? Well… I had thought it was just people having fun in the sand. So what was I doing there?

I was there because of people, and for people. The previous year, I had volunteered at the EUSA Championships in Granada. Just seven days had been enough to build unforgettable friendships and find an international family that I had never expected to have.

This volunteer experience was so much more than "just work." It was about helping others, building meaningful connections, and discovering parts of myself I would never have found inside my comfort zone. It was about the smiles that appeared when we saw people genuinely celebrating teamwork, dedication, and victories. It was also about exhaustion, overstimulation, and sunburns. And yet, every single morning, I woke up excited to see what the day would bring.

As part of the media team, I got to do what I truly loved: create. I loved listening to people's stories and sharing them with others. Most emotions didn't happen on the podium. They happened in the days before the competition, during the preparation, the matches, the conversations behind the scenes, and in all the little moments that most people never got to see.

That year, I had the privilege of meeting again some of the participants I had first got to know while creating Instagram Reels during the previous year's Championships. Seeing familiar faces reminded me that these events didn't just create memories, they created lasting relationships.

Volunteering wasn't only for people who loved sport. It is for anyone who has something to offer and wants to make a difference. Sometimes, all you needed was curiosity, an open mind, and the willingness to create something meaningful together.

Thank you, EUSA, for giving me the opportunity to be there. Thank you for trusting my ideas, for giving me the freedom to be creative, for the challenges that pushed me outside my comfort zone (because I probably wouldn't have left it on my own), and for an incredible team.

Even though these Games were slowly coming to an end, I knew that this was far from the end of our story together.

Elena Fazzi from Italy

The first days of EUG 2026 were special because I was both part of one of Europe’s biggest university sporting events and graduating in Sport Management, a perfect link between my studies and real experience.

At the Games, I joined the EUSA Media Team in a completely new role, creating content and interviewing all types of participants. Although I enjoy talking to people and thought it would be easy, I soon realised many felt uncomfortable on camera, and refusals became part of my daily routine.

After a few days, I understand I could be more useful by making people feel comfortable first. Instead of starting with a camera, I started with a conversation about their experience at the Games and tried to create a connection. Once they felt more relaxed, the interview became much more natural.

This experience taught me that communication is not only about asking questions, but also about listening and creating trust. Sometimes, a genuine conversation is more key to a successful video.

And also, if you really want to understand whether an event is successful, there is no better way than listening to the people who are living it.

EUG 2026 helped me develop new skills, step outside my comfort zone and discover a different side of sports events that I had never experienced like that before. It reminded me that every role can teach you something valuable.

For me, that is what finding my place at EUG 2026 has meant.

Nesrin Serra Koskeroglu from Turkiye

Being part of this EUSA event reminded me of why I love volunteering so much. This wasn't my first time it was actually my fourth EUSA event, following three previous championships and somehow, each one still manages to teach me something new.

I was officially part of the media team, but for me, volunteering has never really fit inside one job title. If there was a way to help; supporting other volunteers, jumping into a task that needed extra hands, or just making someone's day a little easier. That's simply how I like to show up.

That said, media work has a special place in my heart. There's something magical about capturing the atmosphere of an event: the tension before a match, the joy after a win, the quiet exhaustion at the end of a long day. Through my camera, I get to freeze moments that athletes, volunteers, and everyone else will look back on for years. Watching someone's face light up when they see a photo of themselves in celebration is the reward.

But if I'm honest, it's not just the media work that keeps pulling me back to EUSA. It's the people. Every event brings together this beautiful mix of nationalities, backgrounds, and stories, all connected by one shared thing: a love for university sport and for giving your time to something bigger than yourself. The friendships I've built, the laughter shared between shifts, the teamwork under pressure, all of it matters just as much as anything I've captured on camera.

I'm deeply grateful to have been part of another EUSA event, and I already hope it won't be my last. Here's to many more.

The authors of this month's What's Up column are: Elena Fazzi, EUG 2026 International Volunteer, recently graduated in Sports Management, a former university athlete who loves connecting with new cultures with the power of sport; Nesrin Serra Koskeroglu, EUG 2026 International Volunteer, Communication and Design student at Bilkent University, volleyball player, sports media enthusiast, photographer, and content creator who enjoys capturing sporting moments, supporting student-athletes, and learning through international sports events; and Aleksandra Marczewska, EUG 2026 International Volunteer, Master’s degree student in Business Management with a passion for storytelling in content creation.
Part of the volunteer programme at the European Universities Games 2026 in Salerno was co-funded by the European Union through the European Solidarity Corps programme.

Are you a student with an opinion? We are looking for new contributors for our student column every month. Feel free to contact stc@eusa.eu to offer a piece or propose a topic.