4 May 2010 Bumper year for KiwiSport Challenge

Participation of 22 schools in the 2010 KiwiSport Challenge makes this the biggest year to date for the popular annual Canterbury event.

Events at schools range from a  Commonwealth Games type of competition for Year 7 and 8 pupils at Ellesmere College on Wednesday 5 May to a cross country at Burnham School on Tuesday 11 May.

KiwiSport Challenge, sponsored by Dynamic Sport, is an initiative of Sport Canterbury and this year some 6500 pupils are taking part.  Students from Lincoln University’s Recreation Management Event Planning course assist Sport Canterbury with the organisation, marketing and running of the Challenge.  

“The KiwiSport programme allows Lincoln University to offer its students the live opportunity to help organise and run an event,” says Senior Lecturer Chris Hutchinson.

“Our students get to experience for themselves the realities of managing an event. They form management groups related to the various aspects of the event planning process. Very few universities in the world are able to offer this type of immersed learning as part of their Event Management studies. 

“Although the University provides guidance, advice and support, the Challenge work really does belong to the students. The learning outcomes are huge. The students gain knowledge, expertise and skills. We would never be able to generate that much learning in a classroom alone, and we are grateful to Sport Canterbury for the opportunity to participate.”

Student Beth Te Raki is enthusiastic about the approach: “I have really enjoyed the Event Planning course so far. It has given me hands on experience in an industry in which I am interested. Working with the Marketing Group for the KiwiSport Challenge I have met some great people and have faced some enjoyable challenges.”

The Challenge runs through until Friday 14 May with Wairakei School, Wairakei Road, Bryndwr being the final school taking part this year. The participating schools all have a chance to win a prize package of sports equipment through attracting the greatest amount of community support in terms of spectator attendance. The more community spectators, the greater the chance of winning sports equipment courtesy of sponsors Dynamic Sport.