University Sports and the European University Sports Association (EUSA)
The Croatian Academic Sports Federation (CASF) is the umbrella organization for university sports in Croatia. It has 23 members and manages the sports life for approximately 180,000 students from all higher education institutions in the country, making it one of the largest sports systems in the Republic of Croatia.
The EUSA (European University Sports Association) brings together university sports associations across Europe and coordinates the organization of the European Universities Games (EUG). Croatia and Split have continuously organized EUSA events since 2007. The largest event was the EUG Zagreb – Rijeka 2016, which was attended by over 5,000 students from all over Europe. The 2016 Games left a significant legacy: new student dormitories were built in Rijeka, existing ones were renovated in Zagreb, and sports infrastructure was modernized.
Split 2028 – Mission, Vision, Goals, and Legacy
The Mission: The Games will represent far more than 15 days of sporting competition — they will stand as Europe’s foremost academic and social gathering in 2028, dedicated to leaving a lasting legacy for the city of Split, the University, and generations of students to come.
Goals include: development of sports and university infrastructure, promotion of healthy living, inclusion, sustainability, and mental health, strengthening university sports and EUSA values, and engaging young people through volunteering and leadership programs.
Legacy: New and renovated student dormitories (Campus 1 and 2), construction and modernization of sports centers (Gripe, Poljud, Firule, Žnjan, Brda, Mejaši), launching programs such as the ASAP standards (Academic Sport for Active Planet) for ecologically sustainable Games, and developing mental health programs and student education (EUSA’s YouMind project).
EUG 2028 Organizational Structure
The Organizing Committee includes key partners: the City of Split, the University of Split, the Ministry of Tourism and Sport, the Croatian Academic Sports Federation, and the Split Academic Sports Federation.
The structure covers the following areas: Sport, Accommodation, Transport, Security, Medical Services, Volunteers, Ceremonies, IT and Technology, PR and Marketing, Media, Innovation, and Sustainability.
Organization Timeline
2024–2025: Strategic planning and defining key policies.
2026–2027: Operational preparation (sports program, volunteer program, marketing, test events).
2028: Execution phase, or Games Time Delivery.
All processes are monitored through a monitoring, evaluation, and reporting system, and the final report also includes measuring the impact on the local community, economy, and tourism.