With the 2005 Australian University Games coming to a close in Brisbane today it begs an important question: will this be the last?
The Howard Government’s attack on student services will decimate sporting clubs on university campuses.
The viability of the Australian University Games along with the Southern, Eastern and Northern University Games will be placed seriously under threat.
Over 15,000 competitors this year alone have competed in University Games competition and taking this opportunity away will reduce sport and recreation participation rates across the country.
There are also long term ramifications for Australia’s elite sporting performance and these should also not be underestimated.
Former Vice President of the International Olympic Committee, Kevan Gosper has publicly recognised that there is no doubt that VSU will cost us gold medals.
30-35 members (or 8 percent) of the Australian Olympic Team in Beijing 2008 would have come from university sporting programs.
As many as a third of the Australian Olympic team in Athens had been university students at some time.
The Prime Minister is out of touch – his ideological campaign is taking opportunities away from young Australian’s who are the future of our elite sportsmen and women.
The Government needs to vote with Labor’s amendment to ensure that facilities and services on campus can be maintained.
Contact: Taryn Langdon 0417 148 059 or 02 6277 3334
