From 27 to 29 March, Kraków became the centre of student sports competition with an international atmosphere. All thanks to the National Erasmus Games, which brought together over 150 participants representing as many as 34 countries. Around 30 volunteers were also involved in organising the event.
The best teams from across Poland qualified for the final stage. The country was divided into 8 regions, where local eliminations took place - and their winners met in Kraków to compete for the national title and the opportunity to represent Poland on the international stage. The competition took place in three disciplines: volleyball, 3x3 basketball and futsal. From the very beginning, it was clear that the level would be high - after all, only the best teams made it to the finals.
The event kicked off on Saturday with an official opening ceremony, highlighted by a performance from AGH cheerleaders. The program also included the group draw and a short opening segment, during which the role of partners and supporting institutions was emphasised. Saturday featured the group stage, while Sunday brought the decisive knockout phase. This is when the winners of the entire tournament were determined.
The top-performing teams came from the Warsaw + Lublin region, claiming victory in both futsal and 3x3 basketball. In volleyball, the winning team represented the Wrocław region. Other regions also secured spots on the podium - in 3x3 basketball, second place went to the Białystok + Olsztyn region, and third place to Gdańsk + Toruń. In volleyball, teams from the Warsaw + Lublin region finished in second and third place. In futsal, second place went to Gdańsk + Toruń, while third place was taken by the Kraków SW region.
In addition to team competition, individual players were also recognised. MVP titles were awarded in each discipline - separately for women and men - highlighting outstanding individual performances and contributions to their teams. The winners of each discipline earned the opportunity to represent Poland at the International Erasmus Games Final, which will take place on 28-31 May 2026, in Porto, Portugal.
However, the National Erasmus Games is more than just a sports competition. It is a project that brings together students from different countries and cultures, focusing on integration, cooperation, and having a great time. Throughout the tournament, participants wore custom-printed shirts prepared especially for the event, provided by Koszulka z Logo (koszulkazlogo.pl).
The organisation of the finals would not have been possible without the support of the project’s partners and institutions, including InPost, the City of Kraków, VolleyCAMPS, and Koszulka z Logo. The project was also co-funded through a small grant from the Małopolskie Voivodeship. Honorary patronage was provided by the Ministry of Sport and Tourism, while media patronage was held by TVP3 Kraków and dlastudenta.pl.
Once again, the National Erasmus Games proved that sport is more than just competition - it is a universal language that brings people together, regardless of where they come from.
