Third International Student Games at ILT Stadium

The International Student Games will be held at ILT Stadium Southland on Thursday.

It’s the third year the games, organised by Southland Secondary Schools Sport, have been held and sports director Fiona Ward is expecting about 160 students from across nine schools.

“The games are for either exchange students, fee paying or those who have moved to Southland from overseas,” Ward said.

“This is now a highlight of the year for these overseas students.”

Sport has proven to be an ideal way of building connections, Ward said.

“The idea behind this was to use sport as a way of trying to integrate students into the community, It also gives students an opportunity to mix and develop friendships, the prime objective being to give them a fun and social experience, as well as encouraging them to get involved in a sport during their time here.”

Since establishing the games, schools had asked for the event to be held twice a year, Ward said.

The Regional Sports Organisations and sports involved in the games include badminton, basketball, volleyball, futsal, indoor hockey, squash and cycling.

The programme runs from 10.30am with a prize giving from 1.45pm.