UniGames 2010

[grizzly]

University Sport New Zealand has decided on the host city for UniGames 2010 (13-16 April 2010).

In the last two years, we had rather "interesting" locations such as Roturoa and Taranaki (well, New Plymouth, Hawera, Stratford etc). The fencing venues very quite inappropriate, e.g. a small cantine in the Smelly city or a big strip of concrete underneath the stands of the New Plymouth stadium. People didn't like us students ('Students are the scum of the earth') or preferred not to offer accomodation to us (Taranaki).

If you think that, this year, it cannot get any worse than that, then now, it's time to think again.

In 2010, UniGames will be hosted by <drums rolling> INVERCARGILL! (uh, for foreigners, Aucklanders and other people unaware of New Zealand geography: that's a 'town' located at the southern tip of the South Island ). Alright, to be correct, USNZ call the host city "Southland". But then, they say that Southland is a 'buzzing, vibrant region'.

Anyway, if, very understandably so, you can't believe me and think that's all a joke, go to http://www.universitysport.org.nz/news/ ... confirmed/.

Myself, I'm not sure if I want to go there. Air fees will be prohibitively expensive.

Here a few excerpts from the USNZ announcement:


'Host City for 2010 University Games Confirmed

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

Tertiary students from around the country will have the opportunity to experience some of the greatest sports facilities New Zealand has to offer when they travel to Southland for the 2010 University Games in April.

After a rigorous process to determine the best location for the 2010 Games, University Sport New Zealand (USNZ) is excited to announce Southland as the host city for the first time in Uni Games history.

After seeking further information and analysing all three bids, Southland was declared the best option financially, strategically and in the delivery of a quality sports event.

The Southland Consortium pulls together personnel and resources from the key organisations that have built Southland to be the buzzing, vibrant region that it is. Sport Southland leads the Consortium which includes the Invercargill City Council, Invercargill Licensing Trust, Stadium Southland, Venture Southland and the Southern Institute of Technology. The support of such a strong Consortium to assist in the delivery the 2010 Games was a major factor in the final decision. Given the recent financial performance and current staffing structure of USNZ, it is important to employ all resources available to ensure the delivery of a fantastic Games experience in 2010.

And while for some students, it will require travelling nearly the length of the country to attend the Games, Southerners are well accustomed to dealing with their geographical location – an obstacle for many New Zealanders when they seek to travel to the Southland Region. The Southland Consortium have been working closely with local organisations to alleviate some of these concerns and have put in place some fantastic strategies to ensure their geographical location is not a barrier to participation for the 2010 Games.

Laker House of Travel, based in Invercargill, is the 2010 Uni Games Consortium travel partner and will be the main point of contact for Games participants who require assistance in booking their travel to and from Southland. While Invercargill is the main hub of the Games, teams will be offered complimentary bus transfers to the city from Dunedin and Queenstown if they would prefer to fly into and out of these centres. Such strategies are an example of the commitment and passion of the Southland people to deliver the best Uni Games experience yet.

Southland is known for its world class facilities including its major showpiece, Stadium Southland. This outstanding facility will be the hub of the 2010 Games, housing the Games HQ as well as hosting components of the social programme and several sports events including track cycling in the world-class ILT Velodrome.

The Region is also well known for its ability to attract significant events. Previous major sports events held in Invercargill include the NZ Davis Cup, the annual Tour of Southland, NZ Track Cycling Champs, and British Lions Tour, to name a few. In 2009 alone, Southland has hosted international badminton, the Oceania Hockey Tournament and NZ Hockey World Cup qualifiers, an international netball test and the Oceania Championships for Track and Road Cycling.

Superb facilities combined with the passion and dedication of the Southland community provides a perfect base from which USNZ is confident it can deliver a fantastic sporting event in 2010.

The 2010 Uni Games will run from 13 – 16 April. A confirmed list of sports will be available to students in the coming weeks. For more Games information, visit http://www.southlandunigames.co.nz.'

[anakinberrybread]

Still could be worse, the fencing could be in Gore...

oh.. wait...

I would check where the fencing is but it would seem that the university games website for 2010 doesn't have fencing listed as a code.

*facepalm*

[Glock-9mm]

If your flying Auckland to Invercargill it will be about $280 Return - Ex Auckland, For us in Wellington its about $230 Return - Ex Wellington, and then yiou have to tack Accomodation on top of that as well as the other expenses.

That said, this year we had no-one from the South Island enter the UNI games (No, Wellington is not in the South Island! lol), I would hope that would change with Northerners going down to fight as Id be very dissapointed to go all teh way down there and it be a North Island affair.

It will also make logistics for whoever is running the event a complete nightmare.

On the upside, I just looked at Invercargill on the internet, Their City council has a database for finding the dead in their cemetery, apparently their cemetery boasts 50,000 dead and is located over 30 hectares, Oh yes... What a draw card lol.

Regards
Baz (Wgtn)

[Cardboardjesus]

The issue here is going to be flight availability...

As Bennylava and I were discussing earlier, Invercargill has a 2km ashpalt runway and not one but three grass runways.

What this means is that they can't land anything in there larger than a prop driven aircraft, namely the ATR 72 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ATR_72

The ATR is designed to seat 72 people, but AirNZ kindly fits out to seat 60 people (leg room FTW)

1200 students attend Unigames every year. I'm going to take a wild stab in the dark and say that 200 of them will drive down to Invercargill next year. That leaves 1000 students from the rest of the country wanting to fly in.

1000 / 60 = 16.6 x 2 return = 33.2 flights required to get all unigames participants in and out of Invercargill over 1-2 days.

[Fifi]

Nice math. Can someone tell Nancy?

[anakinberrybread]

I heard they are running free shuttle services from nearby places to help a bit.

[Cardboardjesus]

Looks like it isn't going to concern us anyway.

Bennylava just flicked me on a message from the Unisport Council confirming they will not be offering fencing at the 2010 Unigames.

This is basically all I know. They mentioned something about it being because fencing lacks a regional organisation that far south...

Mr Lava may be able to provide more details.

[Fifi]

Christian has sent an enquiry to the NZ University Fencing body (thanks Christian!), and they are looking into it. We'll keep you all posted.

[Cardboardjesus]

I did the same earlier.

Message was along the lines of "Yes they have pulled it, and we're still waiting to find out exactly why"

[grizzly]

Fencing is back to live at UniGames 2010!

The NZ UniFencing Council (I'll never remember their name, I reckon) tells us:

"UniGames 2009 Fencing Venue will be in Dunedin at the Clubs and Society Centre on Albany Street. Everyone will be able to accredit and register at the Dunedin Airport with the rest of the teams upon arrival. Nearly all the universities will be flying to Dunedin followed by a 2 hour bus trip to Invercargill and Gore (apart from Massey Albany at the moment, Auckland and Victoria is still pending)."

I guess we're the lucky ones ...

[ChrisH]

man, all the crazy stuff that went down when uni games was last in Dunners
Should be a sweet time for you guys

[Benny Lava]

And best thing is, I might actually still be a student next year.. HAHAHAHAHAHHA

[grizzly]

And best thing is, I might actually still be a student next year.. HAHAHAHAHAHHA

So you could be the team captain?
Thanks you!

[Benny Lava]

No. Because I'm not a confirmed student. HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA

[grizzly]

Here is an important update on UniGames 2010 for fencin, straight from the USNZ homepage. I like the parts about "somewhat aligned with the 2010 Uni Games" and "there are no fencing facilities in Invercargill". Oh really ... It's such a big town, they must even have a rugby field, somewhere ... (if you push away the sheep ...)

"
* Sport: Fencing
Dates: 14 – 16 April 2010
Location: Dunedin.

Important

* These events [fencing and rowing] will be run by the USNZ Rowing Council and USNZ Fencing Council respectively.
* The dates for both these events align somewhat with the 2010 Uni Games in Southland.

* The dates have been selected by the sports council as being the most appropriate in order to maximise participation in their sport and to avoid clashing with the rest of their 2010 event calendar.

* Although these events are not being held in Invercargill or the Southland region the organisation including registration for these events will be in parallel with the Uni Games.

* This means registration will be done centrally through the Games registration system and the entry form/ code of conduct for the Games, Rowing and Fencing will all be under the same system.

* Accreditation for these events will be in line with the 2010 Uni Games timelines and processes.

* Entry fees will be aligned to the 2010 Uni Games entry fees.

* This approach should allow greater efficiency for all parties involved with organising the events, sending teams and collating registrations and final entries by inputting data into the one system and using the same forms and templates.



Additional Information

* Southland does not have the appropriate facilities required to run these sports in Invercargill.

* For the purpose of those campuses that requires their student sports scholarship recipients to participate in the Games as part of their scholarship requirements, USNZ recognise these two sports and events as part of the Games."

[Benny Lava]

It's so funny that Southland hasn't got facilities for *rowing*. I mean, how hard can it be to find a lake?

[Alex]

LOL

[Origen]

Re lakes. Perhaps all frozen over? Though, if that is the case, it solves the fencing problem

[Alex]

Lunge and sliiiiiiiiide!

[Origen]

It helps the older ones of us move faster

[grizzly]

and we would feel like we were at home, being used to our slippery floor ...

I know it's early days, but is anybody interested in going to UniGames in Dunedin? I'm still not sure myself, although Dunedin sounds quite appealing after New Plymouth 2009 and Rotorua 2008. It could almost be like a revival of Christchurch 2007 ...

I have been here far too long.

[Benny Lava]

Dead keen if we can burn a couch or two.

[Vaestro]

And drink draught beer all weekend, right guys?

I'd be up for UniGames, have to get my fitness back up (and maybe even do some fencing before heading down =p). Keep me updated, it sounds like wicked good times.

[apocrypha]

Unigames Dunedin is the best...you must beat previous record of all gold medals (Foil, Epee, Sabre and teams).

[Fifi]

Come help, beeyotch.

[Alchemist]

Ooo Ooo Pick me pick me.

[grizzly]

Bennylava, I thought you're part of the working class now (as long as you can count bankers under "working" class)?
Anyway, it looks more likely that I won't go myself. I will make sure we send a team, though. And, yes, we will pick you, too, Alchemist. Good to see some young blood on board. Good for the old naughty boys anyway ...

[Benny Lava]

Thanks to an oversight in my papers, I am technically still enrolled as a student for Semester 1. MUAHAHAHAHAHA

[Shortfuzz]

I'd be dead keen to head down there and win us a few more medals (in sabre), provided there's a good group of us going down.

Also, first post.