USIT Games The Host Responsibility Games
“University Sport NZ has taken a very strong stance to ensure the usit BEYOND Travel University Games in Dunedin this
Easter is known as the host responsibility Games,” said Darel Hall President of USNZ.”
“USNZ has a responsibility to the local community and to students to ensure responsible host practices are built into
our events. We have involved police, health and the district licensing agent as well as local HANZ representatives in
discussions for some time. This has ensured we maintain our efforts on host responsibility through focusing on licensed
premises for social events. In effect, we are replicating the system for the 1997 Easter Tournament in Dunedin, which
was successful according to the relevant authorities.”
“Representatives from all the agencies have been invited to come to our functions to ensure we are indeed meeting the
high levels of host responsibility set.”
“University Sport has moved a long way from the events of 1990. We have a moderate to high level of competition with
around 60 New Zealand representatives expected to compete among the 3,000 student athletes over Easter. In recent years
we have hosted several Australian competitors, and while they are generally very good, we do expect to beat them.”
“We are selecting a women’s volleyball and a women’s soccer team for the World University Games in Beijing, China during
August this year. There may be other teams if they are of a high enough standard and have the motivation to compete with
the levels of support available.”
“Our efforts are focused on recapturing the majesty of student sport in terms of excellence in performance of student
athletes and the sheer good fun and exuberance that comes from participation. Our continued work on host responsibility
is part of our strategy to seek greater professionalism in how we manage tertiary sport for students, while retaining
the spirited student edge,” Mr Hall concluded.
Ends
For further details contact the USNZ National Office
04 499 3550