Bond University has been named the partner university of the 2015 Australian University Games, Australia’s largest multisport event for university student athletes.
The partnership was announced at the 2015 Australian University Sport (AUS) national conference in front of representatives from 39 of Australia’s tertiary education institutions.
The 2015 Australian University Games will be held from Sunday 27 September to Friday 2 October 2015, attracting more than 7,500 student athletes, team managers, staff and volunteers from across Australia to take part in 32 sports over five days of competition.
The event is known as a high standard multisport tourism event and managed by Australian University Sport, with support from the Queensland Government through its tourism and events agency, Tourism and Events Queensland.
With more than 100,000 student athletes having competed since its inception in 1993, the estimated economic impact of this year’s event is $12 million in direct expenditure and 44,000 visitor nights, with 6,000 student athletes attending from more than 35 interstate universities.
Garry Nucifora, Executive Director of Sport at Bond University, looks forward to hosting the 7,500 student athletes expected to compete.
“With the Games in our ‘backyard’ of the Gold Coast, Bond is very hopeful that an even greater number of student athletes will participate in the Games and make the most of the opportunities that enhance university life.”
Australian University Sport CEO Don Knapp welcomed Bond University as the Australian University Game’s partner university.
“We are thrilled to announce Bond University as our partner university for this year’s Games,” said Mr Knapp.
“As Australia’s peak body for university sport, our membership is comprised of tertiary institutions. Partnerships with members are not just critical to event delivery, but vital in helping us to develop university sport as a relevant and important aspect of university life at both the university leadership and student athlete levels.”
City of Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate is confident the Gold Coast will have its best on offer for the student athletes.
“I look forward to welcoming student athletes and officials from across the country to our spectacular city, sharing our world class sporting facilities and all that our city has to offer with them,” Cr Tate said.
The Games relies on the participation of the local community to make up the strong volunteer contingent that assists organisers to run the Games. Students or local community members looking to volunteer are encouraged to visit http://www.unisport.com.au for details.