More than 100 students from the ten universities of the EUNICE Alliance Games 2026 gathered in Santander, Spain, from 19 to 22 October for four days of sport, cultural exchange and community-building. Hosted by the University of Cantabria, the fifth edition<\/strong> of the Games once again demonstrated that, within EUNICE, sport is about much more than competition. It is a powerful tool for bringing people together, fostering mutual understanding and strengthening a shared European identity<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Students from across Europe took part in 3×3 basketball and 4×4 volleyball tournaments, while also enjoying cultural activities, social events and opportunities to explore Santander and the region of Cantabria. The programme was designed to encourage interaction between participants from different countries, creating new friendships and reinforcing the connections that lie at the heart of the EUNICE community.<\/p>\n A special focus of this year\u2019s event was the promotion of the values that unite European universities and societies<\/strong>. The opening day included a session on sportsmanship and the prevention of violence in sport<\/strong>, highlighting principles such as respect, fair play, cooperation, inclusion and teamwork. These values continued to guide the Games throughout the week, both on and off the court.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=\u00bbin_container\u00bb full_screen_row_position=\u00bbmiddle\u00bb column_margin=\u00bbdefault\u00bb column_direction=\u00bbdefault\u00bb column_direction_tablet=\u00bbdefault\u00bb column_direction_phone=\u00bbdefault\u00bb scene_position=\u00bbcenter\u00bb text_color=\u00bbdark\u00bb text_align=\u00bbleft\u00bb row_border_radius=\u00bbnone\u00bb row_border_radius_applies=\u00bbbg\u00bb row_position_desktop=\u00bbdefault\u00bb row_position_tablet=\u00bbinherit\u00bb row_position_phone=\u00bbinherit\u00bb overflow=\u00bbvisible\u00bb overlay_strength=\u00bb0.3″ gradient_direction=\u00bbleft_to_right\u00bb shape_divider_position=\u00bbbottom\u00bb bg_image_animation=\u00bbnone\u00bb][vc_column column_padding=\u00bbno-extra-padding\u00bb column_padding_tablet=\u00bbinherit\u00bb column_padding_phone=\u00bbinherit\u00bb column_padding_position=\u00bball\u00bb flex_gap_desktop=\u00bb10px\u00bb column_element_direction_desktop=\u00bbdefault\u00bb column_element_spacing=\u00bbdefault\u00bb desktop_text_alignment=\u00bbdefault\u00bb tablet_text_alignment=\u00bbdefault\u00bb phone_text_alignment=\u00bbdefault\u00bb background_color_opacity=\u00bb1″ background_hover_color_opacity=\u00bb1″ column_backdrop_filter=\u00bbnone\u00bb column_shadow=\u00bbnone\u00bb column_border_radius=\u00bbnone\u00bb column_link_target=\u00bb_self\u00bb column_position=\u00bbdefault\u00bb max_width_alignment_desktop=\u00bbdefault\u00bb max_width_alignment_tablet=\u00bbinherit\u00bb max_width_alignment_phone=\u00bbinherit\u00bb gradient_direction=\u00bbleft_to_right\u00bb overlay_strength=\u00bb0.3″ width=\u00bb1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=\u00bbdefault\u00bb animation_type=\u00bbdefault\u00bb bg_image_animation=\u00bbnone\u00bb border_type=\u00bbsimple\u00bb column_border_width=\u00bbnone\u00bb column_border_style=\u00bbsolid\u00bb][vc_gallery type=\u00bbflickity_style\u00bb images=\u00bb66662,66668,66671,66672,66676,66663,66664,66675,66674,66669,66670,66680,66681,66682,66683,66684″ flickity_spacing=\u00bbdefault\u00bb flickity_controls=\u00bbpagination\u00bb flickity_overflow=\u00bbhidden\u00bb flickity_wrap_around=\u00bbwrap\u00bb flickity_desktop_columns=\u00bb1″ flickity_small_desktop_columns=\u00bb1″ flickity_tablet_columns=\u00bb1″ flickity_phone_columns=\u00bb1″ flickity_box_shadow=\u00bbnone\u00bb image_loading=\u00bbdefault\u00bb onclick=\u00bblink_no\u00bb][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=\u00bbin_container\u00bb full_screen_row_position=\u00bbmiddle\u00bb column_margin=\u00bbdefault\u00bb column_direction=\u00bbdefault\u00bb column_direction_tablet=\u00bbdefault\u00bb column_direction_phone=\u00bbdefault\u00bb scene_position=\u00bbcenter\u00bb text_color=\u00bbdark\u00bb text_align=\u00bbleft\u00bb row_border_radius=\u00bbnone\u00bb row_border_radius_applies=\u00bbbg\u00bb row_position_desktop=\u00bbdefault\u00bb row_position_tablet=\u00bbinherit\u00bb row_position_phone=\u00bbinherit\u00bb overflow=\u00bbvisible\u00bb overlay_strength=\u00bb0.3″ gradient_direction=\u00bbleft_to_right\u00bb shape_divider_position=\u00bbbottom\u00bb bg_image_animation=\u00bbnone\u00bb][vc_column column_padding=\u00bbno-extra-padding\u00bb column_padding_tablet=\u00bbinherit\u00bb column_padding_phone=\u00bbinherit\u00bb column_padding_position=\u00bball\u00bb flex_gap_desktop=\u00bb10px\u00bb column_element_direction_desktop=\u00bbdefault\u00bb column_element_spacing=\u00bbdefault\u00bb desktop_text_alignment=\u00bbdefault\u00bb tablet_text_alignment=\u00bbdefault\u00bb phone_text_alignment=\u00bbdefault\u00bb background_color_opacity=\u00bb1″ background_hover_color_opacity=\u00bb1″ column_backdrop_filter=\u00bbnone\u00bb column_shadow=\u00bbnone\u00bb column_border_radius=\u00bbnone\u00bb column_link_target=\u00bb_self\u00bb column_position=\u00bbdefault\u00bb max_width_alignment_desktop=\u00bbdefault\u00bb max_width_alignment_tablet=\u00bbinherit\u00bb max_width_alignment_phone=\u00bbinherit\u00bb gradient_direction=\u00bbleft_to_right\u00bb overlay_strength=\u00bb0.3″ width=\u00bb1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=\u00bbdefault\u00bb animation_type=\u00bbdefault\u00bb bg_image_animation=\u00bbnone\u00bb border_type=\u00bbsimple\u00bb column_border_width=\u00bbnone\u00bb column_border_style=\u00bbsolid\u00bb][vc_column_text text_direction=\u00bbdefault\u00bb]During the closing ceremony, Conchi L\u00f3pez, Rector of the University of Cantabria, emphasised that sport has the unique capacity to create personal bonds between students from different universities and cultures. She highlighted how the event contributed to strengthening the EUNICE community while offering participants a memorable international experience.<\/p>\n Although the sporting competitions produced impressive performances, with the Poznan University of Technology winning both the basketball and volleyball tournaments<\/strong>, the lasting achievement of the week was the spirit of friendship, solidarity and intercultural exchange shared by all participants.<\/p>\n The EUNICE Alliance Games are part of the broader mission of EUNICE – European University for Customised Education, which brings together ten European universities to promote cooperation, mobility and innovative learning opportunities. Through initiatives such as the Games, EUNICE continues to build a vibrant European university community where students can learn from one another, celebrate diversity and develop a stronger sense of belonging to Europe.<\/p>\n As the 2026 edition came to a close, the symbolic handover to the next host institution, the University of the Peloponnese in Greece<\/strong>, marked the beginning of a new chapter for this growing tradition. Until next year, the friendships, experiences and shared values created in Santander will remain one of the most important victories of the EUNICE Alliance Games.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" [vc_row type=\u00bbin_container\u00bb full_screen_row_position=\u00bbmiddle\u00bb column_margin=\u00bbdefault\u00bb column_direction=\u00bbdefault\u00bb column_direction_tablet=\u00bbdefault\u00bb column_direction_phone=\u00bbdefault\u00bb scene_position=\u00bbcenter\u00bb text_color=\u00bbdark\u00bb text_align=\u00bbleft\u00bb row_border_radius=\u00bbnone\u00bb row_border_radius_applies=\u00bbbg\u00bb row_position_desktop=\u00bbdefault\u00bb row_position_tablet=\u00bbinherit\u00bb row_position_phone=\u00bbinherit\u00bb overflow=\u00bbvisible\u00bb overlay_strength=\u00bb0.3″ gradient_direction=\u00bbleft_to_right\u00bb shape_divider_position=\u00bbbottom\u00bb bg_image_animation=\u00bbnone\u00bb][vc_column 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