This week James Cook University is hosting the very first Down Under University Games, an international invitational sporting event attracting 400 students, who represent 20 Universities from the USA, New Zealand and Queensland.

The Down Under Games is a joint initiative of the CQU Student Association, the James Cook University Student Association and the Griffith Gold Coast Student Guild. Griffith Gold Coast will host the 2003 Down Under Games, with CQU Student Association expected to attract over a thousand competitors to Rockhampton in 2004.

The Down Under Games provide Queensland university students with the opportunity to compete in world class competition, at an affordable cost.

For international competitors the Down Under Games are much more than just a sporting event, providing the opportunity to experience some of the best tourist destinations in the world. In addition, Townsville, Gold Coast and Rockhampton businesses gain a substantial economic boost.

The CQU Student Association is proud to be a future host of the Down Under Games. In addition, the CQU Student Association takes pride in being the organisation that formulated the concept of the Down Under Games and the organisation that put together the coalition of student organisations to consecutively run the event. However, the real winners are the students and host communities who derive mutually beneficial sporting, cultural and economic opportunities.

Gary McMurtrie CQUSA President