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Sport and exercise are not just healthy – they are also an important social and formative factor in students' lives. That is why Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ, the Municipality of Utrecht and six other educational and sports organisations signed the Student Sports Covenant on 26 May. In doing so, they pledged to commit to providing accessible, varied and future-proof sports facilities for students in Utrecht.

The signing took place during the UUlympics: a sports day for students and staff at Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ, which was organised for the first time this year. The day, which was initiated by Student Assessor Niels Vreeswijk, is all about connection, vitality and enjoying sport. These are precisely the values that the covenant stands for. Vreeswijk: ‘As former president of the Utrecht Student Hockey Club and the Sports Council, I have seen how important sport is for students, and I experience this myself. When I play hockey, I am really focused on something other than my studies and my work as a Student Advisor. It allows me to recharge my batteries.’

In the covenant, the eight parties agree to work more closely together to maintain and strengthen the range of sports on offer to students in Utrecht, with a particular focus on the growth of the Utrecht Science Park. The number of student residents in this area is set to grow significantly in the coming years, which will lead to increasing pressure on sports facilities. The agreement also emphasises the importance of sports for the mental well-being of students at a time when performance pressure, loneliness and mental health issues are on the rise.

By signing the covenant, the parties involved undertake to:

• actively promote a varied and accessible range of sports for students in Utrecht;
• support students in finding a suitable sport;
• continue to prioritise the importance of student sports in future developments, such as modifications to the Olympos sports centre;
• share knowledge, resources and networks to strengthen student sports in a structural manner.

‘Sport is more than just exercise,’ says Wilco Hazeleger, rector of Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ. ‘Sports clubs are places where students meet each other, develop themselves and thus contribute to mental health.’