Students of the University of Rijeka will take part in two prestigious European university competitions this year, demonstrating that Rijeka’s academic sport extends well beyond national borders.
Their biggest sporting challenge awaits in Salerno, Italy, where the European Universities Games will be held from July 18 to August 1, 2026. This is one of the largest student sporting events on the continent, organized every two years under the auspices of the European University Sports Association (EUSA). Unlike traditional international competitions, the participants are universities rather than national teams, preserving the strong academic and student-focused character of the event. More than 4,000 athletes and team members from around 400 universities across some 40 European countries are expected to attend, competing in 13 sports across university campuses and sports venues throughout the Campania region. The University of Rijeka will be represented in Salerno by its badminton players.
However, the Games are not just about sport. The organizers emphasize their strong social dimension, highlighting the event as a platform for international cooperation, cultural exchange, and networking among young people from across Europe. The slogan of this year’s edition, “Passion never ends,” reflects this spirit. Salerno 2026 has been announced as the largest university sporting event in Europe this year, with Split set to host the Games in 2028.
Earlier in the season, another major European competition will take place. From September 8 to 16, 2026, Tirana, the capital of Albania, will host the European Universities Combat Sports Championship, organized by EUSA in cooperation with national federations. The event will bring together the best university athletes in judo, karate, taekwondo, and kickboxing, with around 1,500 participants from more than 400 European universities expected to compete. The program will be divided into two phases, with karate and taekwondo competitions taking place in the first part, followed by judo and kickboxing later in the week.
The University of Rijeka will be represented in Tirana by Filip Višnjić in karate and Stela Lovaković in judo.