The EUG in Debrecen, Hungary, was a varied experience for the women's football team from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. In sporting terms, the team from Karlsruhe finished the tournament in 6th place, which was ultimately unsatisfactory, but not undeserved. As the team had little time to prepare together, it was mainly on the pitch that they got used to each other, which was noticeable in the first few games. Thanks to the good tournament mode, the KIT's performance improved from day to day, as only one recovery day was planned. In general, the players had a lot of fun because they were able to play every day and prove themselves anew. The level of the teams in the tournament was very different, but overall the level of play was acceptable.

By scheduling the matches early in the morning, the players were always able to visit other sports in the afternoon and cheer on other German teams, for example. The support between German teams, regardless of the sport, was always noticeable. One sport that stood out was 3x3 basketball, which was exciting to watch thanks to the great location and early evening game times. But futsal also provided a new perspective on the well-known indoor soccer that we remember from our youth days.

The public viewing of the European Championship matches on a big screen stood out as a shared experience, also with the other nations. As there was always a nation represented that was currently playing, there were always jubilant winners and lots of emotion at the end. Unfortunately, you didn't get much of a taste of Hungarian culture during the EUG, as the daily program meant that the athletes primarily spent their time at the sports facilities and around their own accommodation. What stood out positively was the willingness of the volunteers, who were always helpful and eager to help despite occasional language barriers.

Overall, the European Universities Games 2024 were an instructive and interesting time that provided all participants with a wide range of experiences that they would like to repeat.