3 days, 14 sports and 1300 participants: GNSK is coming to Wageningen

The 2020 and 2021 editions were cancelled due to COVID, and an incomplete edition was hosted in Delft in 2022. This year, the intention was for the event to be hosted in Nijmegen, but the university decided to refrain from organising it after all. To avoid another year without GNSK, Wageningen stepped up. ‘We value this event and its continuation’, says Henri ten Klooster, head of sports centre De Bongerd, in an interview with Resource. ‘If we lose yet another edition of the GNSK, we may lose it forever.’

With roughly 1300 athletes and 100 supervisors and volunteers, this is one of the largest student sports events in the Netherlands. The programme includes 8 recurring sports, as well as a varying range of optional sports. This year, those are Beach Volleyball, E-sports, Powerlifting, Table Tennis, Gymnastics and Bicycle Racing. The event will be opened with a festive ceremony and concluded with a big party at the Ceres student association on Saturday 10 June.

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In 2018, the GNSK also took place in Wageningen. After a well-played competition, the athletes from Wageningen ended in second place

While the university boasting the best athletes is a matter of prestige every year, the event is always marked by a warm atmosphere with a focus on fun. Brenda Langevoort, secretary of student sports foundation Thymos, spoke to the Algemeen Dagblad: ‘Many of the participating clubs send proficient athletes as well as recreational teams. This approachable character is an important aspect of the championship. Anyone studying at a university or university of applied sciences and enrolled in a student sports association can participate.’

It has been like this since 1957, when the first edition took place in Amsterdam. As such, Wageningen is continuing a long tradition and hopes to inspire a new generation of students.