A rabid audience. Huge applause. There's no better feeling than when the students representing the university stand up on the podium. This year, Debrecen and Miskolc will host the European University Games between 12-24 July, where the University of Pécs (UP) participating with a record 101 sportsmen in the international university competition, where the organizers expect to attract more than 5,000 athletes. The UP athletes gathered in the Senate Hall on 2 July before the event.
UP will be competing in 11 sports (table tennis, B33 basketball, futsal, judo, karate, handball, kick-boxing, chess, taekwondo, badminton, water polo), 13 teams, 83 athletes and 18 team leaders and coaches for the 2024 competition. The backbone of the team will be made up of table tennis, figure skating and water polo athletes who medalled at last year's European University Championships.
"I am very proud of the athletes of PTE-PEAC!" - said Dr. Attila Miseta, Rector of UP.
"For the second year in a row, UP was named the most athletic university the year before and the year before that. This is another indication of the quality they represent!"
- said the Rector, and encouraged the athletes to have fun during the games. He added "The Pécs team should behave like a Pécs team! I wish them a sportsmanlike fight and good results!"
Dr. József Betlehem, Vice Rector for General, Strategy and Relations of the University of Pécs, Chairman of the Sports and Para-Sports Committee also welcomed the participants. He said that the University of Pécs has made significant efforts to develop sports in recent years, which can be seen in the increase in the number of athletes. "In 2022, about 30 athletes have qualified in four sport disciplines in the competitions and games organised by the European University Sports Federation. By 2023, this number had doubled, with around 60 athletes participating in seven sports. This year, we hope to increase this number even further: more than 100 athletes will represent the University of Pécs in 11 sports, which is also a manifestation of the serious preparation work that has been done in the past period." The Vice-Rector added: "I wish that the anthem will be sung many times for the benefit of the athletes of Pécs, especially in the case of podium finishes. I hope that this kind of spirit will truly reflect the spirit of Pécs and the University of Pécs for all. I can only say:
go PTE! Go PEAC!"
"Excellent players make up the University of Pécs team! You can win a medal in practically any category" - said Dr. Pongrác Ács, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Pécs and President of the University Athletics Club of Pécs. He stressed that anyone who plays serious, high-level sport and also goes to university has to face a lot of cancellations. "For this reason alone, I am very, very proud of all of you! Not only the PEAC athletes, but everyone who will represent the university," said Dr. Pongrác Ács, adding that
"UP athletes will compete with the best of the best at the European University Games, trying to take advantage of the home field."
The highlight of the event was the ceremonial handover of the UP team flag and T-shirt by Professor Dr. Attila Miseta to the representative of the university team, Helga Dari, symbolizing the commitment of the athletes and the support of the university. "I myself chose this university because I heard that here you can study and play sport at a very high level at the same time," said the representative of the university team, adding, "I am proud to represent the university at such a high level of competition. I think all athletes do their best to give their best and represent the university with pride. We want to win medals, especially gold medals, and bring home as many medals as possible. We are very grateful for the support that allows us to participate in such competitions, gain experience and make new friends."
On behalf of all the citizens and alumni of the University of Pécs, we wish the participants of the 2024 European University Games the best of luck!
The results will be available on the official UP Facebook page.
GO UP!
