EUC Orienteering 2025 starts in Lodz
The Opening Ceremony of the European Universities Orienteering Championship took place on the 24th of July in Lodz, at the Faculty of Philology of the University of Lodz.
The ceremony celebrated not only the commencement of the competition, but also the core values of orienteering: precision, strategy, endurance, and respect for nature.
As the Championship begins, the opening ceremony set a tone of excitement and camaraderie, ushering in days of thrilling competition, friendship, and exploration, both on the map and beyond.
On behalf of the Organising Committee, participants were welcomed by Lukasz Charuba, President of the Local Organizing Committee, wishing them the best of luck, while also paying tribute to the unique character of orienteering, which challenges athletes to navigate unfamiliar terrain with both mental agility and physical strength.
On behalf of the EUSA, participants were welcomed by SCAC Chair and Technical Delegate, Dusan Vystavel, expressing pride to see so many dedicated and talented student-athletes gathered here for this celebration of sport and skill. He wished them fair races, accurate navigation, and memorable moments on and off the course.
The participants were also welcomed on behalf of the city of Lodz by Adam Wieczorek, Vice-President of the city of Lodz, who wished the athletes good luck and expressed pride in supporting university sport and the values it promotes: fair play, inclusion, and international cooperation.
The oaths on behalf of the athletes and referees were given by Hanna Sudol and Piotr Chmielecki.
The competition is organised by the University of Lodz in close cooperation with the experienced organizer UKS Orientus Lodz, the Polish Orienteering Federation, the University Sports Association of Poland, the City of Lodz, and orienteering specialists.
During the Opening Ceremony, tokens of appreciation were given on behalf of the European University Sports Association (EUSA) to the Local Organizing Committee and the city of Lodz.
The Championship will take place from 24 - 27 of July in Lodz, Poland.
EUSA is represented by SCAC Chair and Technical Delegate, Dusan Vystavel, EUSA Sports Coordinator, Eszter Gulyas, EUSA Projects and Communications Officer, Hristina Hristova, EUSA Sports Intern, Kinga Gaal, and Results Management support, Davor Habljak. They will make sure that the event runs smoothly and without problems.
The competition will host 149 participants, representing 58 universities from 16 countries. The participants will compete in three main races: sprint, middle distance, and sprint relay.
The organising committee, volunteers, and course setters have worked diligently to prepare fair, challenging, and engaging courses across beautiful and varied terrain.
Orienteering is a unique discipline that challenges both body and mind. It demands not only endurance and speed, but also sharp decision-making, adaptability, and respect for nature. These qualities are mirrored in each of the athletes, and we are excited to witness the level of excellence, sportsmanship, and determination they bring to this three-day competition.
Prior to the Opening Ceremony, the General Technical Meeting took place, serving as a platform for sharing the main information and points before the start of the championship.
