Murdoch University’s hockey team at the recent Western University Games.
Camera IconMurdoch University’s hockey team at the recent Western University Games. Credit: Supplied/Australian University Sport/Facebook

Students to descend on Perth for 2016 University Games in September

Jessica NicoEastern Reporter

MORE than 6000 students will pour into Perth next month as WA plays host to the 2016 University Games.

Athletes representing 42 Australian universities will compete in 34 sports over six days, from traditional athletics, swimming, basketball and hockey to the more unusual cheer and dance, tenpin bowling and ultimate frisbee.

All five of WA’s universities will field teams in the competition, which will return to WA for the first time since 2010.

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University Games general manager Tony Jermyn said it was great to be back in Perth.

“This is my favourite place to run the University Games and no city in Australia can offer the same quality of sporting facilities,” he said.

“Many people won’t realise that in the London Olympics, 40 per cent of the Australian team was made up of university students, who won 60 per cent of the medals.

“In Rio that (participation) number is up to 56 per cent.”

With venues spread throughout the metropolitan area, Tourism WA acting chief executive Gwyn Dolphin said events such as this were important for WA tourism.

The 2016 University Games is on September 25-30.