Charles Darwin University’s 22 sporting clubs will be muscling up following a $200,000 grant from Australian University Sport (AUS), the peak body governing university sport.
President of CDU Sport, Bill Adams said the grant, $50,000 a year for the next four years, would fund a position to promote and coordinate sport on CDU campuses.
'In the past, CDU Sport has been coordinated through the gym (Fitness Unlimited Health Club), but this funding will mean that we have a person who is responsible for working with the university sporting clubs and the community to increase participation,' Mr Adams said.
CDU Vice-Chancellor Professor Helen Garnett said the grant would deliver benefits to CDU students, which was particularly important, as well as to staff and the wider region.
'This position will ensure that university sport continues to move ahead and that’s a great result for everyone who uses CDU facilities from an individual wanting to play social soccer to an aspiring elite athlete,' Professor Garnett said.
Mr Adams said the position also would assist the national talent identification program from the Australian Institute of Sport in testing athletes throughout the Northern Territory.
But a primary activity will be to work with CDU sporting clubs to promote university games at a regional and national level.
One of the premier sporting events on the university calendar, the Australian University Games, will be held on the Gold Coast for six days from September 23. A total of 40 athletes from CDU will compete in some of the 33 sports represented at the games.
Mr Adams said he expected CDU’s participation in future University Games would be even stronger because of the grant which was provided by the Federal Government through AUS to help off-set the loss of student amenities after the introduction of voluntary student unionism.