AEGEE-Cagliari proposed a SU, based on sport and boat trips, to give twenty-five young people from every part of Europe an unforgettable experience. Its entire title was “Bigger, Better, Stronger: Sardinian Challenge”. Thanks to the work of very experienced AEGEE members, the Sardinian Antenna organised an event which made the participants love the island. The journalist Matteo Lai was an organiser of this overwhelming event and told us something about it.

Have you ever thought to unify some of the most beautiful beaches in the world with sports activities? AEGEE-Cagliari proposed a Summer University where participants could enjoy the Sardinian sea with some rare classical and new games, such as Bubble Sumo, Kayak, Military circuit. The participants spent some days at the sea, not only swimming a lot, but also listening to music on a boat, for example. The main organiser and coordinator of the SU was Thomas Muntoni, AEGEE-Cagliari’s Internal Vice-President.

He could count on the contribution given by seventeen organisers, some of them very young members of the Antenna: Alberto Unali, Alessio Usai (Logistics Responsible), Antonio Pintus (External Vicepresident and Games and Activities Responsible), Antonio Cicalese (helper, AEGEE-Salerno member, and Games Responsible), Fabian Raab (Drivers Responsible), Fabio Pilloni (Treasurer), Federico Aru, Francesca Amelia Zorcolo (President), Lorenzo Ligas (PR-Responsible), Marco Augugliaro (Meal Responsible and FR-Responsible), Miriam Muntoni (Games Responsible), Nicola Motzo, Paola Letizia Murru (Secretary and Incoming Responsible), Roberto Perra, Silvia Liciardi (HR-Responsible and Social Programme Responsible), Valentina Atzori (Sessions Responsible), and me, as IT-Responsible, Cagliari City Tour Guide and Driver.

There were often two very experienced members, Sasha Ghorpade and Davide Lecca, essential to cement the group. Already during the second day the participants tried our Military circuit organised by Federico: you can think about some training for soldiers adapted to civilians. The final result was surprising because all guys managed to complete every task ordered by the teacher on the grass of Pitz’ E Serra Park.

The authors of this sports miracle came from every part of Europe: Goran Borovcanski (Macedonia), Dayana Tzvetkova (Bulgaria), Aleksandra Icic (Serbia), Djordje Ristic (Serbia), Kimberly Beijersbergen (the Netherlands), Félix Laencina Escobar (Spain), Albert Podraza (Poland), Olivera Lukic (Serbia), Marian Vavrynchuk (Ukraine), Laura García Rueda (Spain), Santiago Navarro Román (Spain), Furkan Ocak (Turkey), Vasiliki Andrioti (Greece), Valerie Bond (the Netherlands), Elena Barinova (Russia), Fatma Jasmine Hazirlar (Turkey), Valerie Schlickovà (Czech Republic), Ferenc Màthé (Hungary), Edina Marton (Hungary), Mandy De Graaf (the Netherlands), Philip Laeborg (Denmark), Carmen Gálvez Estévez (Spain), Alexandra Kurilova (Russia), Darnel Lloyd (Dominican Republic).

On the same day (Monday 1^st of August), the participants enjoyed an excursion to the Devil’s Saddle with the essential help of Roberto Mastromarino (Mastro, for friends) who accompanied the participants up to the top where there were two tables with lots of cold beers as an aperitif to enjoy the sunset and admire a breathtaking panorama of Cagliari. The day ended with the traditional Pub Crawling at Cagliari’s city centre. Both the organisers and participants had a lot of fun, also thanks to the kind of tasks included in the alcoholic game, like promoting our next Network Meeting with a short video or repeating some embarrassing Italian words [I laugh].

The 2nd of August was my birthday and the day of the City Tour in Cagliari: my international friends followed me through the Roman Amphitheatre, Saint Efisio’s Church, Yenne Square with the statue of Carlo Felice of Savoia, Viceroy Palace, Saint Remy Bastion. They were entertained with some games to make the city tour a bit funny, such as reproducing the word “AEGEE” with their bodies and singing their national anthems where many people passed by. I believed they would be tired after one hour and a half of walking but they were really strong, and Mastro helped me showing them other sides of the historical part of the Sardinian capital.

Then, we had lunch in a restaurant near Saint Remy Bastion, where my birthday was celebrated while eating a cake slice and singing a song “built” with my first and last name. On the evening we moved to Selargius, a town close to Quartu S. Elena (the place of the accommodation), where our friends discovered the Bubble Sumo: you have to push three other people away from a circle, while all the players are inside a huge plastic ball. We organised a Bubble Sumo tournament which was won by Valerie Bond. As we were in a football field, we could not resist the temptation -because we are Italians- to play a football match with two mixed teams of organisers and participants.

After everyone danced in a disco at Poetto beach, named “Lido”, they woke up and went to a place called “Marina Residence” for our Cooking Workshop about “ravioli”, introduced by Sasha and his grandmother. The European students were involved in preparing this kind of pasta and, after two hours, their bodies were covered in flour. We got full of ravioli and we went to a beach ten minutes away from the location of the workshop to attend a lesson in canoeing; even though it was forty degrees in the shadow [I smile]. It seemed that the participants did not feel the high temperature.

Do you think our friends were tired and wanted to sleep? Not in the least! They were ready to get crazy at our Pool party in Borderline, near Cagliari. That party was considered to be the best of the entire Summer University by all the participants: not very often you can drink a cocktail, dive in a swimming pool and dance to cool music with a deejay set by Valentino Poddie (Poddi for friends) until four o’ clock in the morning in an amazing location like the Borderline. On the 4^th of August, it was time for a new sport: Brasilian Ju Jitzu, in a gym of Quartu S. Elena. The teacher explained the basics and some movements of this martial art so that the participants could begin to throw each other on the floor for an hour [I laugh]. Moreover, our friends could not stay in Sardinia for twelve days without visiting one of our best cellars, the one in Dolianova, where they tasted some of the sweetest wines in the island and they ate “malloreddus” (or gnocchi), a Sardinian traditional pasta. They also discovered the best Sardinian beer, Ichnusa.

Have you ever danced reggaeton on commercial music on two connected ships while you sip a spritz? It is possible and our participants did it. Our friends danced a lot at”La Paillotte”, a very famous club close to the Devil’s Saddle, in a place called Calamosca. The European hosts not only visited Cagliari, but also Villasimius and Cuglieri. In particular, they sailed with a touristic ship named “Matilda” along “Donkey Head” beach and Cabbages Island. It was one of the most awesome days in the SU, many people dove from the ship and made a lot of selfies with their mobile phones. In Cuglieri’s wood, organisers and participants celebrated the European Night. It was also an occasion for drivers to relax and not get worried about the lucidity of our participants, because the place of the European Night was only ten minutes away from the accommodation (inside a monastery) walking. In short, we did not need to use any taxis.

On the same day, we spent some hours on the Mari Ermi and S’Archittu beaches. On the last day, the organisers received a real surprise that they would not ever expect: after the votes for “The Best of”, as it normally happens at Summer Universities, Philip handed over a plastic table, on which participants had written the name of the organisers with some messages and congratulations for the hard work in preparing the event or of feelings about our beautiful land. It was a clear signal that they had really appreciated our programme and even, despite my impression [I laugh], Valentina’s lessons about AEGEE structure and Civic Education that were held in the gym. I was with a group that understood the aim of the event: the importance of practising some sports with a right diet (the Mediterranean one). Among those guys I met some really special people that I hope to see again very soon somewhere in Europe. At AEGEE-Cagliari SU there were also some love stories, of course, but the details will remain a secret among the protagonists of this magnificent hot event.

Written by Matteo Lai, AEGEE-Cagliari.            

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear of Brescia? Footballers Pirlo and Balotelli who come from the same named province, mountains, lakes, or just a small hidden and relatively unknown paradise midst the famous Franciacorta vineyards? Brescia is all of them and even more. Heading there for AEGEE’s Summer University (SU) I wasn’t sure whether I had to expect more than a typical SU full of sports, but I was proved wrong, because I spent there the most magnificent two weeks of my life.

The SU ‘s motto was: Be Green, Go Extreme, and Just SUrvive. 30 participants from 13 countries gave their best to fulfill the high demand and survive the challenge of non-stop hiking, walking, partying under the hot sun of Lombardy. And we did it! There were moments when some of us believed we couldn’t do it, we were scared, we reached our limits and then we passed them. We were SUrvivors, but above all, we found in each other some great friends, somewhat like a family – priceless gifts that AEGEE gives you unconditionally.

Having as a main theme sport in nature, the adventure began by climbing in Caionvico, a hill on the outskirts of Brescia. Then we moved to a three-day sightseeing phase, by visiting firstly the great Venice with its canals, gondolas, marvelous buildings and palazzi.

After that it was Verona, the city of Romeo and Juliet, of opera, art and love, where Sara of AEGEE-Verona guided us through her picturesque city. In between the rainy city rally of Brescia, which resembled a Dostoyevsky landscape under the pouring clouds. Italian culture and beauty conquers easily every heart without trying much, and gives you every single moment reasons to fall for it. The participants were fascinated, argued vividly which corner or building is more beautiful,  walking through the magical narrow streets, taking pictures, collecting memories.

They say that lovers’ paradise is Paris, but they are wrong. Italy is the centre of art, culture, love, food and all of the above are underlined by this language sounding like a song. Yes, I’m biased and I exaggerate, but the memories are still so strong and, closing my eyes, I’m still wandering Brescia, eating a gelato at Piazza della Loggia.

I keep my eyes closed and continue to dream: vineyards, Guido Berlucchi in famous Franciacorta, sailing to Monte Isola in Iseo Lake. We were travelling to the mountains, in the Italian Prealps and we settled in a beautiful stony house, named Stallino in Caregno.  Pure nature and silence. By visiting Azienda Agricola Pesei farm, the participants became familiar to agro-tourism and life of cultivating the earth.

European Night, when one of the organisers, Alessandro got drunk and started loving taking selfies, the Italian cooking workshop, the brief return to Brescia and then the trip to Riva del Garda, it all comes back to me with joy. Crossing through the tunnels I felt like James Bond in the Quantum of Solace movie. This journey was an epic on so many levels.  But the most beautiful  lake we visited was, undoubtedly, Tenno Lake, a small lake hidden in the mountains, with blue water that reminded me of my beloved Aegean sea.

Back in action, we went to Casto, to climb a via ferrata, which actually is climbing over a steel cable that crosses your entire route and protects you from falling. Most participant regarded this activity as the highlight of the SU (apart from the gossip box)!

I loved every single moment of the SU and so did everybody else who was there. These intense moments experienced together bring people close and are the start of great friendships.

Love you crazy participants and organisers of AEGEE-Brescia SU 2015. Ci vediamo presto!!

Written by Elena Panagopoulou, AEGEE-Athina

Photos by

Michele Minuti & Luca Bisighini, AEGEE-Brescia

Maria Giourga, AEGEE-Ioannina,

Ongun Batuhan Altan, AEGEE- Eskisehir

They were labelled as two of the favourites of the tournament and they have made their road to the final. Argentina and Germany will face each other tonight at 21 (CET) to earn their glory at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Purely based on statistics, no European team has ever won the Cup when the Championship was held in the American continent.

Germany and Argentina play a very different concept of football. Argentina probably has the strongest player in the world, la pulga (flea ed.) Lionel Messi. Germany, instead, worked as a collective and was not depending on one player. “Being champions is really something very important for a country and also for the players, who have sacrificed so much to get here”, says the Argentinian coach Alejandro Sabella. “Become champions in Brazil would be an even greater pride”. From his side, Joachim Löw, Germany’s coach, says that “Argentina is not only Messi, this team is better than four years ago, much better organized. But if we exploit our quality, we will win”.

In fact, this is not the first time Germany and Argentina will face each other in the final. In Mexico 1986 it was Argentina who won 3-2 and four years later, in Italy in 1990,  Germany took his revenge winning 1-0. Today, it is the third final that both teams will play in the legendary Estádio Maracanã with the Italian Nicola Rizzoli chosen as the referee. Five is the number of World Cups currently owned overall by both teams (three for Germany, two for Argentina).

But what happened during the direct elimination matches?

Round of Sixteen

Brazil won over Chile 4-3 (after penalties) in a very well-balanced match. Colombia showed their strengths (and confirmed themselves as one of the surprises of the tournament) after beating Uruguay 2-0 thanks to two goals by James Rodríguez, one of the best players seen in the Cup. Mexico was initially winning against Netherlands, but Wesley Sneijder and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar overthrowed the results. Ticos from Costa Rica beat the Greek team after penalties, and lead the American team to the quarterfinals. Germany and France defeated the surviving African teams, 2-1 against Algeria and 2-0 against Nigeria, respectively. Argentina won 1-0 after extra-time to Switzerland, whereas the last qualified for quarters was Belgium, who beat the US after extra time on 2-1, reaching their first quarterfinal since 1986.

Quarterfinals

Germany – France, the great European classic, finished with a 1-0 result that allowed Germans to reach their thirteenth semifinals in the FIFA World Cup history (the fourth in a row). The Colombian dream came to an end against Brazil after losing 2-1. But the Seleção (Brazilian team nickname ed.) paid a very high price: Neymar was hit by Zuniga and rushed to the hospital. For him, the Cup was over and Brazil lost his most promising player.

Argentina- Belgium was already written and the Albiceleste won for 1-0. The last quarterfinal saw the favourite Netherlands struggle to win against the ‘cinderella’ Costa Rica. After the extra time, the result was still 0-0 and the Dutch coach Louis van Gaal replaced  the goalkeeper Cillessen for Krul in the very last minute. Krul saved two penalties, and brought the Netherlands to the semifinals.

Semi-Finals

Brazil and Germany, a déjà-vu for most football lovers, finished in the most unexpected way: 7-1 for Germany. Five goals from the Germans in 30 minutes against a Brazil that seemed far away from the field. Without Neymar, Brazil appeared disband and unable to finalize anything.

Exciting as the first semifinal was, the second one was dull and soporific instead. The game was not decided either in the regular time or within the 30 additional minutes of extra time, and closed at 0-0. During penalties Argentinian goalkeeper Sergio Romero neutralized the penalities kicked by Ron Vlaar and Wesley Sneijder. On the other hand, Argentinians did not miss a shot, winning 4-2 and heading to the finals.

Written by Erika Bettin, AEGEE-Venezia

Should doping be allowed? This was the question raised to the Sports Working Group members shortly after Lance Armstrong, America’s former professional road racing cyclist, confessed his use of doping to media mogul Oprah Winfrey not so long ago.

The first response was not surprising: a member asking if it was a joke asking to allow doping? If you cheat, you do not play fair. However, not everybody agrees. Some believe that if everybody uses doping in cases such as cycling then why not allowing it? The sport fanatics of AEGEE disagree loudly. Zoi from AEGEE-Athina says “First of all doping is bad for the athletes’ health. We have many examples of deaths at a young age most probably because of doping and that’s really sad. And then I believe that everybody should compete with their own natural abilities and show what they are capable of. If I take the “right” medicine maybe even I could win the marathon, is that the point? Not for me, and I am totally against doping.”

It is curious that fair play is not promoted much at all levels. FIFA does it in football, but what about the other sports? Though not having much relevance of doping it is interesting to mention a big sportive gesture that took place in Spain in December. The 2^nd of December an athlete from Kenya, Abel Mutai, who won the bronze medal in 3000 m. steeplechase in the London Olympics last year, was close to win in Spain as when he entered last step of the race he thought he had won so he took the pace down, relaxed and started saluting the audience. Behind him came Iván Fernández Anaya, a 24 year old Spanish athlete who had the opportunity to win but instead of accelerating for the win, stayed behind Mutai, making gestures to make him understand (and almost pushed him forward) that he was letting him finish in the first place. Fernández is considered to be an athlete with a bright future and former Spanish champion says about the episode: “Even if they had told me that had I won I would secure a spot on the Spanish national team, I wouldn’t have taken advantage of the situation. I think that my action was better than if I had won. This means a lot, because today with how things are in all environments, in football, in the society, in politics where it appears that everything matters, a gesture of honesty goes well.” Unfortunately, this is a gesture that very few people know about. (The story has been retrieved from here)

It is important to promote fair play and actions like the one mentioned above together with promotion of how it is possible to be physical active without consuming products dangerous to your body, and the European Union agrees “The problems caused by doping are obvious – it undermines the principle of fair competition, discourages people from taking part in or following sports and poses a real risk to health. The EU is funding research projects in this area and is also in regular contact with relevant bodies, including the World Anti-Doping Agency.” (http://europa.eu/pol/spo/index_en.htm)

And this discussion has made the Sports Working Group start working on a ”Europe on Bike” project taking participants of a potential event from AEGEE local to another promoting fair play, sports, health and combating physical inactivity amongst other topics. The discussion about doping is not new, but the confessions from Armstrongs are and hopefully many people will support and take part in building an interesting project such as “Europe on Bike”.

Written by Patricia Anthony, AEGEE-København