Students selected for World University Games in Belgrade
11 May 2009; Rod Warnecke

Student-athlete Victoria Brown preparing for the World University Games in Serbia.

Five University of Melbourne students will be flying out to Belgrade, Serbia at the end of the month to represent Australia at the 25th World University Games (1 – 12 July).

PhD Science student Thomas Barnes will represent Australia at his second Universiade in the 20km Walk. Property and Construction student Victoria Brown will protect the goals for the Water Polo team and will be hoping that a solid performance in Belgrade will see her heading off to Rome for the FINA World Championships later in the month. First year Commerce student Jason Hughes will make his Australian debut in the men’s Volleyball competition. Property and Construction Honours student Dimitri Roumpos will also make his Australian debut in Table Tennis. Fourth year Commerce/Information Systems student Lloyd Townsing will be making a splash in the pool, representing Australia in the Swimming.

The 2009 World University Games, or Universiade, will be the largest village-based international competition leading into the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games and the 2012 London Olympic Games. For some of the 2009 Australian team, the World University Games will be a stepping stone towards future representation at Commonwealth and Olympic-level. While for others, this international representative experience may be the highlight of their sporting career.

For table tennis player Dimitri Roumpos, the World University Games is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

“With my sport being dominated by the Asian countries, it’s very difficult to qualify for international events. Going to Serbia to represent Australia is going to be a very proud moment for myself and my family”, said Roumpos.

But representing one’s country does come at great expense. The overall cost of competing at the 2009 Universiade for these student-athletes and the rest of their team-mates is $5,000. The University has provided $1,000 Vice-Chancellor’s Elite Athlete grants via the Cultural and Community Relations Advisory Group (CCRAG), while the Melbourne University Sports Association has provided an additional $750 FISU grant.

The University is also represented at the Universiade by Sports Coordinator Kirstie Dench (women’s Basketball Team Manager), Erin Cole and Brad Axford (Massage Therapists) and this writer of this piece (Senior Management). For more information on the 2009 World University Games, check out www.ub2009.org.

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For further information, contact:
Rod Warnecke, Sport Development Manager
Mob: 0403 199 700
Fax: +613 8344 5583
Email: rod.warnecke@unimelb.edu.au