A panel discussion on how to adapt to the challenges posed by COVID-19 was held at the conference ©EUSA

A regional conference on university sport has been held in-person in Split by the Croatian Academic Sports Federation (CUSF) and European University Sports Association (EUSA).

The event took place on Saturday (July 17) and coincided with the city on the Adriatic Coast hosting the 2021 Croatian university sport finals.

Delegates were invited to the Opening Ceremony.

How to promote university sport events and how to respond to the challenges posed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic were discussed at the conference.

It was attended by participants from national university sports associations and representatives from EUSA, including President Adam Roczek and secretary general Matjaz Pecovnik.

Roczek directly addressed the challenges faced by European university sport, prompting EUSA vice-president Haris Pavletić to stress the need for regional cooperation.

Pavletić is also a CUSF vice-president.


The presentation by Pecovnik featured projects and activities promoted by EUSA.

Further presentations followed on marketing and the promotion of large-scale events, the impact of major university sports events in Italy and environmental sustainability in European university sports.

Four EUSA Executive Committee members - Roczek, Pecovnik, Francis Cirianni and Milan Zvan - were then panellists for a discussion about how university sport can adapt to the difficulties presented by COVID-19, which was moderated by fellow Board member Bruno Barracosa.

CUSF President Zrinko Čustonja, vice-president Toni Gamulin, secretary Davor Habljak and sports sirector Nikola Vincetić were all in attendance. 

This year’s European Universities Games, which were due to be held in Serbian capital Belgrade, will not take place, and the event will be hosted by the Polish city Lodz in 2022.

The EUSA Executive Committee last month discussed the possibility of Belgrade being awarded the 2023 Games.