The 2016 European University Games are slated to take place in the Croatian cities of Zagreb and Rijeka from July 13th to the 24th. This year, the unique international event, organized by the European University Sports Association (EUSA), is expecting over 4,000 participants from over 200 universities representing 45 countries.
2016 marks the 3rd edition of the international competitive event, which is held every two years. The 2012 edition of the Games was held in Cordoba, Spain while Rotterdam, the Netherlands hosted the 2014 version. The number of sports has grown significantly in the young history of the Games, with the 2012 edition having included just 10 sports – badminton, basketball, table tennis, volleyball, football, futsal, rugby, tennis, beach volleyball and handball.
Among the sports being added to this year’s version of the Games are the aquatic disciplines of competitive swimming and water polo. Per the schedule on the event’s site, the aquatic events will be held on the following dates:
Water Polo – July 11-16
Swimming – July 22-25
Para Swimming – July 22-25
The swimming events will slightly condensed in that, on an individual level, just the 50m and 100m distances of each stroke will be contested in addition to the 200m IM event. One men’s 200m freestyle relay, one women’s 200m freestyle relay and one mixed 200m freestyle relay are also on the competition’s schedule.