Over 2,200 beds booked out for Autstralia’s 2010 Eastern University Games

COFFS HARBOUR – Coffs Harbour accommodation providers will be bursting at the seams in early July as 1,950 students from 20 tertiary institutions in New South Wales and the ACT descend on the city to compete in the 2010 Eastern University Games (EUG).

With them come 170 team managers and a number of officials, staff and volunteers, bringing total number of beds booked to over 2,200.

“We are very excited with our final numbers for the Games. This event is growing each year and it is great to see so many students travelling to Coffs Harbour to compete in this multi-sport event” said Rob Sheekey, 2010 Eastern University Games project manager.

“With so many visitors in town the event is 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 Sheekey added.

Aimee Purcell, university team manager for University of Technology Sydney is bringing 260 students to the Games and has booked out five hotels in the city for five nights. “Our team is too big to house in just one hotel in Coffs Harbour so we’ve had to spread it over five.”

“We are bringing a massive team this year and are competing in every sport except tenpin bowling. Our team is enthusiastic and we expect to be a force in a number of sports, particularly mixed netball where we are the current Australian University Games champions” Ms Purcell added.

The event, supported by Australian University Sport, Coffs Harbour City Council and Southern Cross University will cover 12 sports including basketball, football, handball, hockey, lawn bowls, netball, rugby union 7’s, tenpin bowling, tennis (singles), touch, ultimate frisbee and volleyball and is held concurrently with the Northern University Games in Toowoomba and the Southern University Games in Bendigo.

(Source: Sarah Wordsworth AUS Marketing & Media Coordinator)