On your marks for
new-look Uni Games
The Australian University Games will be transformed in 2018 as part of a plan to boost the standard of competition and profile of UniSport Australia’s flagship event.
The event has been rebranded as UniSport Nationals, where more than 10,000 students from 42 Australian universities will compete in national-standard sporting competitions.
The UniSport Nationals will comprise two major events, known as Div 1 and Div 2, and will be held on the Gold Coast in September and July this year respectively.
Div 1 consists of 33 sports contested across men’s, women’s, mixed and open categories.
Only the top 10 teams from the previous University Games rankings will qualify for competition in each sport. The two lowest-placed teams in each sport in Div 1 will be relegated into Div 2 the following year.
Div 2 will involve 14 sports, and universities can enter teams if they have not already qualified for Div 1 in that sport. The top two ranked teams in each sport in Div 2 will be promoted into Div 1 the following year.
UQ’s Div 1 athletics team captain and 400-metre and 800-metre runner Daniel Parnell applauded the changes.
“Uni Games has always been a great event and there’s a strong sense of camaraderie and mateship,” the three-time University Games competitor said.
“On the track, however, it’s cut-throat. Everyone has their own goals – some are seeking selection in the prestigious World University Games – and it’s incredible to run beside such esteemed athletes.
“Both UQ Sport and UniSport Australia have been working hard to support us and improve the experience, so I hope that we are able to match their efforts as athletes and come home with some fantastic results.”
Volleyball star Michaela Shuttleworth will captain UQ’s Div 1 women’s beach volleyball team, as well as UQ’s Div 2 women’s indoor volleyball team, this year.
Shuttleworth said the Nationals’ new structure would help improve team morale as the competition becomes more serious.
“There’s already a sense of pride when we wear our UQ team colours. But being able to lead these teams into a more prestigious event motivates me more to perform well and inspire others.
“This year is the first time in four years that UQ has entered a women’s indoor volleyball team, so I’m hoping we can get the team into Div 1 for next year’s competition.”
To learn more about UniSport Nationals, visit unisport.com.au.
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