Geographical distance is not a hurdle for FISU Oceania

From the Islands to the Field – How the ‘Tyranny of Distance’ will never stop the Oceania region from participating in World University Sport

A student’s life… studying, reading, writing and most importantly for some, participating in sport. That is what FISU Oceania offers its eleven member federations across the region.

 

Future FISU Volunteer Leaders Academy participant Benjamin Hall met with David Schmude, President of both FISU Oceania and UniSport Australia, to shed some light on the smallest among the FISU continental federations – the one surrounded by the Pacific Ocean.  

 

FISU EC Member Martin Doulton (L) and David Schmude discuss future plans for FISU Oceania and UniSport AustraliaComprising of only eleven national members (American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Guam, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, New Zealand, Northern Mariana Islands, Papua New Guinea & Samoa) FISU Oceania is important to the university sport movement, with its immense prospects for growth and development.

 

A member of FISU since 2009, the Oceania region services a population of close to 42 million people; with almost 2 million of those studying at a tertiary institution. Although it is relatively small in size, it is big enough to make animpacts with more than 50 universities in the region.

 

In his talk with Benjamin Hall, David Schmude emphasised the importance of unity and equality.

 

“All the continentals have their challenges, ours is probably a tyranny of distance in that we are at the bottom of the world, but we must remain unified in our cause to promote sport.”

 

With his successful experience at UniSport Australia behind him, Schmude sees the distance factor as as an opportunity to grow.

 

“My goal as President is to have continual improvement, trying to grow our numbers of participation and engagement, whilst also increasing the capacity of the region to send more representatives to the World University Games,” he said.  

 

The way that FISU Oceania is seeking to achieve is this is by implementing and promoting their five-year strategic plan.

 

“Our focus is around four main areas of participation, engagement, capacity and awareness, and the strategic plan does a really good job of that.”

 

Looking at the next two years specifically, Schmude is excited about the fact that the next year is a World University Games year.

 

“You have to experience it to see the enormity of it.”

 

“We as a collective region were able to send 360+ athletes to the most recent edition in Naples, Italy (2019), but we would love to see that number grow heading into the 31st World University Games being held in Chengdu, China in 2021.”

 

As a region that prides itself on its sporting prowess and strong-willed culture, the future looks bright with Schmude dropping hints that one day Australia could hold a Universiade on behalf of FISU Oceania.

 

“If Australia had the opportunity to host a future World University Games event in the Oceania region, it would do amazing things for university sport within the country, but also the region.”

 

The Oceania and Australian sporting culture is deeply ingrained in society, and being able to represent their nations on an international stage is something students dream of.

 

“Attending the World University Games in Naples last year was great,” continued Schmude. “But I think the highlight was that I had heard a lot about the games for many many years and being a part of the Australian team and representing the Oceania region, it made me so proud.”

 

As a well-respected continental region of FISU, Oceania is set to make history this year, sending its first ever elected member to the 2020 FISU Volunteer Leaders Academy in Kazan, Russia – none other than Benjamin Hall, the writer of this interview.

 

This writer also believes that although we in Oceania are a great distance away from the rest of the world, nothing will stop us in our desire to be involved in global university sports movement.