Monash University takes on New Zealand Uni Games
Day 1
A large and diverse group of Monash University students signed up to take part in Monash Universty's inaugural trip to the New Zealand Uni Games.
Monash was represented in mens basketball, womens netball and mens and womens badminton, all four teams consisting some top Victorian players and national representatives. The teams were selected based on their success at last year's Australian Uni Games. Players were backed up by team managers and Monash Sport support staff.
After flying into Auckland and driving to a wet and windy Rotorua on Sunday night, the group had a rest and preparation day on Monday. There was some concern from the netball team when Games organisers revealed their competition venue was a cluster of outdoor bitumen courts depite the heavy rain. Other netball team managers must have had the same reaction and the games were shifted into the multi-purpose events centre alongside the basketball competition.
As this was the first time an Australian university had competed in the Games, organisers had arranged a special welcome for us on a marae or meeting hall at Waiariki Institute of Technlogy. Maori dancers performed the haka and sang traditional songs and local elder Ken Kennedy also welcomed us to the Rotorua district. Players had the chance to greet the locals with a hongi, the traditional Maori greeting expressed by rubbing noses.
While VIPs were treated to food and drinks at the official Games hotel, students from most of the competing universities enjoyed an opening ceremony, flag parade and performances by bands and DJs in a marquee at Waiariki Institute. |
