Third European University Water Polo Championship announced at a press conference in Vukovar

July 1, 2025 – At today’s press conference held at the “Lavoslav Ružička” Polytechnic in Vukovar, the third edition of the European University Water Polo Championship, under the umbrella of the European University Sports Association (EUSA), was officially announced. From July 7 to 13, Vukovar will host top European student teams, with the Vukovar Swimming Pool turning into a hub of high-level student sport and international unity.

The championship will bring around 150 athletes from eight universities from Croatia, Hungary, Turkey, and France. The competitions will take place over six days, with the official opening ceremony scheduled for July 7 at the city’s symbol, the Vukovar Water Tower, in a special emotional setting combining history and sport.

Among the Croatian representatives, the University of Zagreb will stand out, as the current national academic champion making its debut at this competition, as well as the University of Split, whose students are the reigning European champions from the European Universities Games Debrecen-Miskolc 2024.

Speaking at the conference, the dean of the “Lavoslav Ružička” Polytechnic and president of the Organising Committee emphasised that this event is an important step forward for Vukovar as a city of sport and education, as well as a significant promotion of Slavonia on the European sports map.

This was echoed by the Prefect of Vukovar-Srijem County, Mr Ivan Bosančić, who said:

“It is very important for our county and our city to host events, especially of such a sporting and international character, in our area, because I am sure they contribute not only to promotion but also to connecting students and higher education institutions. That is an added value that is hard to achieve without an event like this. We will present ourselves as good hosts, as we have shown in all our previous activities, and I have no doubt that VEVU will do an excellent job at a high level. Congratulations to everyone involved in the organisation — you have my full support, and the support of the county.”

Other speakers included the Deputy Mayor of Vukovar, Mr Filip Sušac, the Director of Sports Facilities Vukovar, Mr Ivan Szabo, and EUSA Water Polo Project Manager, Mr Marko Kunac, who jointly stated that this championship is proof of how sport can serve as a powerful tool for connection and the development of the local community.

The third European University Water Polo Championship is part of a broader vision of developing student sport in Croatia and Europe, and represents a platform for strengthening cooperation, exchanging experiences, and promoting the city of Vukovar, all made possible with the support of local and national partners.

Admission to the competitions is free for all spectators, and all matches will also be available via the official YouTube channel @EUSAWaterpolo, ensuring broader visibility for this event.