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The Commonwealth Sports Universities Network has been officially launched in the Gold Coast, Australia.
The CGF partnered with Griffith University to debut the Network, which aims to create a formal sporting partnership between the CGF and, initially, five foundation Universities from across the Commonwealth.
The success of the CGF and Griffith University’s existing Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games partnership was the inspiration behind the establishment of the Network. The CGF and Griffith University have been joined by four additional founding member Universities – the University of Ottawa (Canada), University of Toronto (Canada), University of Johannesburg (South Africa) and Strathclyde University (Scotland) – for the Network’s inaugural meeting on the Gold Coast.
The new Commonwealth partnership forms a core part of the CGF Development Programme and will build on and further integrate the internship, research, and evaluation work undertaken by the Higher Education Sector at Commonwealth Games, maximising opportunities for coordination, knowledge exchange, internship opportunities and research priorities across recent, future and prospective Commonwealth Games hosts.
Network members will benefit in a range of ways including global exposure, internship opportunities for students, educational and research opportunities, and international network relationships with other Commonwealth institutions and organisations. The CGF will have the opportunity to learn and gain from new academic research on the Commonwealth Games, innovative internship initiatives and sport development programs through universities across the Commonwealth.
Professor Powell highlighted the successful GAPS (Gather Adjust Prepare Sustain) Program hosted by Griffith University in the build-up to Gold Coast 2018 as a prime example of how University partnerships with the Games can enhance lives and develop athletes in less developed regions.
“We were able to make our world-class on-campus facilities and academic expertise in areas like sport technology and exercise science available to athletes who would not normally have access to these,” he said. “In this way, Griffith engaged with the CGF’s sports agenda. Now, through the CSUN, Griffith and other universities across the globe can do so in a formalised, planned and focused way.”
The Network was launched by CGF Vice President, Bruce Robertson and Vice Chancellor and President of Griffith University, Professor Ian O’Connor AC, at a formal event on Griffith’s Gold Coast campus.
