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(By Samantha Drysdale and Alan White - Bond University Journalism students)
Forty-four Universities from across Australia and New Zealand participated in the annual Australian University Games (AUG), held on the Gold Coast last week.
More than 6900 students participated in a variety of sports played at 29 different locations across the Gold Coast, which was the largest to date.
AUG 2009 media manager Sarah Wordsworth said when deciding to host the games on the Gold Coast, the climate and facilities were an influential factor.
“The students love it here,” she said.
“We hosted the games here in 2007 and have since then decided to come back every second year.”
Included in the five day sporting calendar were numerous social events, with 10 Surfers Paradise businesses contributing to the games’ evening events.
“We have liaised with the local police to ensure the night activities are safe for both the students and general public,” Mrs Wordsworth said.
Bond University hosted the men’s volleyball championships and Varsity College the fencing championships.
Bond University Institute of Sport assistant manager Shanon Zunker said he was excited about the prospect of the games being in Bond’s own backyard.
“Participation is up from last year due to the games being held locally, making it affordable for our students,” he said.
Some Universities, including Bond, help students compete in the games by subsidising some of the registration, uniform and equipment costs.
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