Nearly 1,000 to take part in 2010 Southern University Games

BENDIGO – Bendigo accommodation providers will experience great winter occupancy rates in early July as over 920 students from 14 tertiary institutions in Victoria, Canberra, South Australia and Tasmania descend on the city to compete in the 2010 Southern University Games (SUG).

With them come up to 250 team managers, officials, staff and event management volunteers, bringing total number of participants in the event to close to 1,200.

“We are very excited to be bringing the Games to Bendigo. The SUG is growing in popularity each year and it is great to see so many students travelling to Bendigo to compete in this multi-sport event” said Ben King, 2010 Southern University Games project manager.

“With so many visitors in town the Games are sure to make an impact on the local community, both in terms of an injection to the economy, and engagement with locals through our volunteer program” Mr King added.

Mark Campbell, university team manager for Deakin University is bringing 142 students to the Games and his students have booked beds in a number of places around town. “The students have booked a number of cabins at two caravan parks in town and also various hotels.”

“We expect to be a force in a few sports. We are bringing five netball teams, three basketball teams, two soccer teams, plus a team in AFL, mixed touch and men’s and women’s volleyball” Mr Campbell added.

The event, supported by Australian University Sport, City of Greater Bendigo, La Trobe University and Bendigo Student Association and will cover 11 sports including AFL, basketball, football, hockey, lawn bowls, netball, tenpin bowling, tennis (singles), touch, ultimate frisbee and volleyball and is held concurrently with the Eastern University Games in Coffs Harbour and the Northern University Games in Toowoomba.

(Source: Sarah Wordsworth AUS Marketing & Media Coordinator)