Lithuania
participants
National Erasmus Games 2023 was a sports competition that brought together incoming international students, members of the Erasmus Student Network (ESN), and local students for a day of athletic competition and personal growth. Our event not only showcased the athletic talents of the participants but also aimed to foster cross-cultural understanding and promote a healthy lifestyle. Some of our goals were to showcase the diverse athletic talents of participants from various cultural backgrounds, create a supportive environment for personal growth and development, emphasize the values of inclusivity and diversity within the sporting community and encourage female and male athletes to compete on an equal footing, challenging gender stereotypes (promoting gender equality).
One of the unique aspects of our event was the inclusion of local students, who could participate by forming teams that include a certain number of international students. This ensured that the event is not only a platform for cultural exchange but also an opportunity for local students to connect with their international peers. We aimed to strengthen the sense of community among incoming international students, ESN members, and local students.
Similarly structured to the real Erasmus Olympics, National Erasmus Games 2023 had students from different ESN sections, exchange students, local students and international full-time students challenging each other in 4 different disciplines (volleyball, badminton, futsal and table tennis).
National Erasmus Games' goal is to spread the culture of practising one or more sports disciplines during the students' mobility period in Lithuania. It aims to build a sense of community and cultural enrichment among foreign students and the Lithuanian ones, because "the things you learn from sports — setting goals, being part of a team, confidence — that's invaluable. It's not about trophies and ribbons. It's about accepting challenges and being fearful of the elements." - Summer Sanders, former American swimmer and two-time gold medalist.
