UIC Barcelona will coordinate the Catalonia University Championships (CCU) during the 2026–2027 academic year. The handover from the University of Vic - Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC) took place at Tuesday’s closing ceremony for the 41st edition of the championships. During the ceremony, the institutional transfer of responsibility for organising the championships to UIC Barcelona was formally confirmed, with the University assuming coordination of the competition in the forthcoming academic year.
At the event, the rector of UVic-UCC, Josep Eladi Baños, presented the institutional handover to the rector of UIC Barcelona, Alfonso Méndiz, symbolising the beginning of a new phase in the organisation of the Catalonia University Championships under the University’s leadership. In his address, Rector Méndiz stated that the University is taking on this responsibility “with humility, a strong sense of responsibility and a commitment to meeting the expectations it represents”. He also highlighted the importance of continuing to promote “a shared understanding of the Catalan university system, grounded in collaboration, trust and a collective commitment to building together”.
Looking ahead to the next edition, UIC Barcelona has proposed Sant Cugat del Vallès as the host city for the championships. The councillor for Culture and Sport at Sant Cugat City Council, Núria Escamilla, who also attended the ceremony, noted that the municipality is embracing this challenge “with great enthusiasm” and with the aim that “everyone taking part in future championships can enjoy both the competition and the city”.
The 41st edition of the championships brought together 13,857 university students, representing one of the highest participation figures in the competition’s history. The ceremony also included recognition of the most outstanding athletes in this academic year’s individual competitions. Among those honoured, Alma Pérez (UAB) in taekwondo and Héctor Bazán (UVic-UCC) in climbing were named the overall top athletes of the championships.
The Catalonia University Championships are the leading competition in Catalan university sport. Since the first edition in 1986, the championships have become an important meeting point for universities across the region, promoting participation in sport, the educational values associated with sport and a sense of community among students. All 12 Catalan universities currently take part and, since 1995, responsibility for coordination has rotated each year between institutions.
For UIC Barcelona, coordinating the CCU represents an opportunity to further strengthen the values associated with university sport, including effort, perseverance, teamwork and healthy lifestyle habits. Through its Sports Service, the University promotes sport as a tool for personal development, a commitment that will be further strengthened through its organisation of the 2026–2027 Catalonia University Championships.
