July 19, 2025 • 9 mins
A team of 84 student athletes are set to represent New Zealand at the World University Games in Germany.
Organised by the International University Sports Federation (FISU), it is one of the world's largest multi-sport events.
Chef de Mission Evelyn Williamson joined Piney to discuss.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk ZB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
A team of eighty four student athletes are representing New
Zealand currently across multiple sports at the FISU World University Games.
They're on in Germany until next Sunday. The World University
Games bring together around eight and a half thousand student
athletes and officials from over one hundred and fifty countries
to compete for medals in eighteen different sports. New Zealand
(00:36):
Chef de mission is Evelyn Williamson, who joins us now. Evelyn,
thanks for your time. How big are the University Games?
Speaker 3 (00:44):
They're about the size and Olympic Games slightly slightly smaller,
maybe a thousand less athletes, but they are substantial in
terms of multi sports. Second biggest games multi sport games
on the calendar after Olympic Games.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Tell us about the sports that we have athletes competing in.
Speaker 4 (01:03):
I'm probably going to miss them if I'm having to
reel them off. Let's let me.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
We have basketball, athletics, rhythmic and art of the gymnastics, fencing, rowing,
water polo.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
Two teams, men's and women's beach volleyball, and I feel
like I've missed something.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
Archery wonderfu. They tach sports wonderful, so a real mix.
Do athletes have to be full time tertiary students? Is
that the qualification?
Speaker 4 (01:38):
Yeah, they have to be enrolled in a full time course. Yeah.
I think there's probably every institution has a different sort
of definition of that. But yeah, they have to.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
Be studying and they have to be there between the
ages of eighteen and twenty five.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
And are some of our athletes studying offshore?
Speaker 4 (01:57):
Yep?
Speaker 3 (01:58):
Yeah, We've got quite a few from American universities here
who certainly are in New Zealand very often and have
come straight from their American base or European base.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
I know that at previous Games, the likes of Eliza McCartney,
z Ohe Hobbs, Hamish Kerr, Anthony mass laur and Boyle
have competed. Do some of this current team see this
as a bit of a stepping stone to Commonwealth Games
to Olympic Games? Perhaps?
Speaker 4 (02:26):
I think that's the joy.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
You never really know, and it's always a lovely surprise
when they do kick on. Obviously some of them this
will be the biggest thing they ever do, and especially
for some of our smaller sports we're making the Olympic
Games and fencing and archery, you know, are pretty it's
a pretty big mountain to climb, but the likes of athletics,
(02:49):
some of those mainstream sports. Athletics definitely are definitely a
stepping stone for probably some of them.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
And water polo.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
We're building a water polo program where they're trying really hard.
Speaker 4 (03:02):
I think funding is obviously the hardest thing.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
But we narrowly out on getting a woman's water polo
team to Paris last year. They're really hopeful that we
might get across the line for LA in twenty eight.
So some of these girls will be, you know, at
the right age and stage for that. So I'm hoping
these experiences really set them up for what could be
(03:28):
a big deal when what water polo might debut on
a New Zealand team in LA and twenty eight wonderful stuff.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Now competition I see is taking place across three cities.
What sort of logistical challenges does that create for you.
Speaker 4 (03:42):
I don't think there's much time and enough time in
this interview. Jason.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
It is quite it is really quite difficult. It's hard
to build a team when you are in three city. Well,
there's actually five cities across the games. We're lucky we're
only in three, but we're at eleven hotels and you know,
so you can imagine you're having to duplicate, replicate everything
(04:08):
that you do and you're managing lots of things at
the same time.
Speaker 4 (04:13):
It's it's not a great model. They're making it work
for where we are and.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
They're doing their best, but it is a difficult to
feel like you're part of a New Zealand team or
any team when you're spread out across such a wide
range of properties.
Speaker 4 (04:31):
The one nice thing about this is a.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
Lot of it's a lot of the sports are based
in the center of Essen in a big convention center,
which is something that New Zealand doesn't really quite have.
So there's about eight sports in there and big giant
halls and that's where the main dining is, and so
it's quite a melting pot in there.
Speaker 4 (04:50):
It's pretty cool.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
It gives you a real games vibe, but beyond that,
it's it is quite difficult to manage.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
I can imagine eleven different hotels and I know where
you're supposed to be at a certain time. Evelyn, in
terms of now, what could possibly.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
Go around eighteen to twenty five year old in eleven hotels.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
Yeah, it's a very good way of putting it. But
are the athletes able to support one another? Is there?
I know they're concentrating on their own sports, but can
they go and cheer along the other kiwis if they
have time?
Speaker 3 (05:21):
There's a small window for each of them, and it's
pretty small, and that's another thing that gets lost in
this sort of model though, because you're in hotels. It's
a costly exercise, so they've restricted the length of stay.
You're only allowed to arrive three days before your event
and you have to leave within forty eight hours after
your event, So there's not a lot of time for
(05:43):
that stuff, which is usually the lovely organic stuff that
happens within a team. And there is a little bit
but and then you know, the transport goes from their
hotel to their venue. It doesn't get you necessarily to
other venues, so you've got to rely on public transport
to get yourself to watch your teammates.
Speaker 4 (06:02):
So there's a few barriers to that.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
But we're trying to make it work and making it
easy for the athlete by giving them some wayfinding, and
they get free public transport access, so that helps. So
there's some positives, but it is unfortunately not like being
in a village.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
What are the competition venues like great?
Speaker 3 (06:20):
The venues have been The venues are world class. It's
really impressive, really well. The overlay that they've put on
some of the existing infrastructure has been impressive. So I
think that's a lovely thing that the efforts are going
to have. They have great accommodation, it's comfortable, it's nice,
(06:41):
we're not sleeping on cardboard beds.
Speaker 4 (06:43):
And they get to their.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
Venue and it's an awesome venue so they can perform.
Speaker 4 (06:50):
So that's really what you're here for.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
So you know, all that other stuff is window dressing,
but it's also nice. But they're going to be able
to do what they need to do.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
And this isn't your first rodeo. Of course, you've been
involved in the delivery of many, many International Games campaigns.
Do you still get surprised occasionally by something that pops up?
Speaker 4 (07:09):
Surprise every day? Jason is.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
Every campaign is a learning experience.
Speaker 4 (07:17):
There's just it is fascinating. Things can still surprise you.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
But every city is different, and every organizing committee is
different and so you're always dealing with the same stuff,
but it's on a different canvas, you know, so you've
got different challenges. So there's you're never short of surprises.
And that's what I actually love because I love fixing.
Speaker 4 (07:39):
With the team around me. You know.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
Our daily job is just basically troubleshooting and making sure
that the coaches can do their jobs. So we're just
it's like a big jigsaw puzzle every time and it
keeps you, keeps you sharp, and.
Speaker 4 (07:52):
It keeps you thinking.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
So those challengers are actually kind of fun when you
solve them.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Awesome. Well, I've seen heaps a great social media content
back here, our people back here able to follow the games.
Are Are there broadcast options ofailable or not?
Speaker 4 (08:07):
Yeah, there's online broadcast.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
It's called fiesu TV if I su dot TV and
they're dreaming most sports live, so yes you can. And
we're doing I think we're doing. It's not my fute,
but we are doing as much as we as well
in lots of different formats. Don't ask me what those are. Instagram, tektok, Facebook,
(08:33):
and then I'm lost.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
It's like looking at a mirror. I know exactly what
you mean, I know exactly what you mean. Evely, It's
been great to chat. Look, we will follow with interest
the next week or so of our athletes at the
World Uni Games. Thanks so much for taking the time
for a chat today.
Speaker 4 (08:48):
Thank you, Jason.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
It's a wonderful opportunity for them, so appreciate the airtime.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
No, I appreciate you joining us, Evelan. Thanks indeed, shift
a mission of our New Zealand team at the FISU
World University Games in Germany. Evelyn Williamson joining us on
Weekend Sport.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jesson and Fine, listen
live to news talks at b weekends from midday, or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk ZB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
A team of eighty four student athletes are representing New
Zealand currently across multiple sports at the FISU World University Games.
They're on in Germany until next Sunday. The World University
Games bring together around eight and a half thousand student
athletes and officials from over one hundred and fifty countries
to compete for medals in eighteen different sports. New Zealand
(00:36):
Chef de mission is Evelyn Williamson, who joins us now. Evelyn,
thanks for your time. How big are the University Games?
Speaker 3 (00:44):
They're about the size and Olympic Games slightly slightly smaller,
maybe a thousand less athletes, but they are substantial in
terms of multi sports. Second biggest games multi sport games
on the calendar after Olympic Games.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Tell us about the sports that we have athletes competing in.
Speaker 4 (01:03):
I'm probably going to miss them if I'm having to
reel them off. Let's let me.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
We have basketball, athletics, rhythmic and art of the gymnastics, fencing, rowing,
water polo.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
Two teams, men's and women's beach volleyball, and I feel
like I've missed something.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
Archery wonderfu. They tach sports wonderful, so a real mix.
Do athletes have to be full time tertiary students? Is
that the qualification?
Speaker 4 (01:38):
Yeah, they have to be enrolled in a full time course. Yeah.
I think there's probably every institution has a different sort
of definition of that. But yeah, they have to.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
Be studying and they have to be there between the
ages of eighteen and twenty five.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
And are some of our athletes studying offshore?
Speaker 4 (01:57):
Yep?
Speaker 3 (01:58):
Yeah, We've got quite a few from American universities here
who certainly are in New Zealand very often and have
come straight from their American base or European base.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
I know that at previous Games, the likes of Eliza McCartney,
z Ohe Hobbs, Hamish Kerr, Anthony mass laur and Boyle
have competed. Do some of this current team see this
as a bit of a stepping stone to Commonwealth Games
to Olympic Games? Perhaps?
Speaker 4 (02:26):
I think that's the joy.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
You never really know, and it's always a lovely surprise
when they do kick on. Obviously some of them this
will be the biggest thing they ever do, and especially
for some of our smaller sports we're making the Olympic
Games and fencing and archery, you know, are pretty it's
a pretty big mountain to climb, but the likes of athletics,
(02:49):
some of those mainstream sports. Athletics definitely are definitely a
stepping stone for probably some of them.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
And water polo.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
We're building a water polo program where they're trying really hard.
Speaker 4 (03:02):
I think funding is obviously the hardest thing.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
But we narrowly out on getting a woman's water polo
team to Paris last year. They're really hopeful that we
might get across the line for LA in twenty eight.
So some of these girls will be, you know, at
the right age and stage for that. So I'm hoping
these experiences really set them up for what could be
(03:28):
a big deal when what water polo might debut on
a New Zealand team in LA and twenty eight wonderful stuff.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Now competition I see is taking place across three cities.
What sort of logistical challenges does that create for you.
Speaker 4 (03:42):
I don't think there's much time and enough time in
this interview. Jason.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
It is quite it is really quite difficult. It's hard
to build a team when you are in three city. Well,
there's actually five cities across the games. We're lucky we're
only in three, but we're at eleven hotels and you know,
so you can imagine you're having to duplicate, replicate everything
(04:08):
that you do and you're managing lots of things at
the same time.
Speaker 4 (04:13):
It's it's not a great model. They're making it work
for where we are and.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
They're doing their best, but it is a difficult to
feel like you're part of a New Zealand team or
any team when you're spread out across such a wide
range of properties.
Speaker 4 (04:31):
The one nice thing about this is a.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
Lot of it's a lot of the sports are based
in the center of Essen in a big convention center,
which is something that New Zealand doesn't really quite have.
So there's about eight sports in there and big giant
halls and that's where the main dining is, and so
it's quite a melting pot in there.
Speaker 4 (04:50):
It's pretty cool.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
It gives you a real games vibe, but beyond that,
it's it is quite difficult to manage.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
I can imagine eleven different hotels and I know where
you're supposed to be at a certain time. Evelyn, in
terms of now, what could possibly.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
Go around eighteen to twenty five year old in eleven hotels.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
Yeah, it's a very good way of putting it. But
are the athletes able to support one another? Is there?
I know they're concentrating on their own sports, but can
they go and cheer along the other kiwis if they
have time?
Speaker 3 (05:21):
There's a small window for each of them, and it's
pretty small, and that's another thing that gets lost in
this sort of model though, because you're in hotels. It's
a costly exercise, so they've restricted the length of stay.
You're only allowed to arrive three days before your event
and you have to leave within forty eight hours after
your event, So there's not a lot of time for
(05:43):
that stuff, which is usually the lovely organic stuff that
happens within a team. And there is a little bit
but and then you know, the transport goes from their
hotel to their venue. It doesn't get you necessarily to
other venues, so you've got to rely on public transport
to get yourself to watch your teammates.
Speaker 4 (06:02):
So there's a few barriers to that.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
But we're trying to make it work and making it
easy for the athlete by giving them some wayfinding, and
they get free public transport access, so that helps. So
there's some positives, but it is unfortunately not like being
in a village.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
What are the competition venues like great?
Speaker 3 (06:20):
The venues have been The venues are world class. It's
really impressive, really well. The overlay that they've put on
some of the existing infrastructure has been impressive. So I
think that's a lovely thing that the efforts are going
to have. They have great accommodation, it's comfortable, it's nice,
(06:41):
we're not sleeping on cardboard beds.
Speaker 4 (06:43):
And they get to their.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
Venue and it's an awesome venue so they can perform.
Speaker 4 (06:50):
So that's really what you're here for.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
So you know, all that other stuff is window dressing,
but it's also nice. But they're going to be able
to do what they need to do.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
And this isn't your first rodeo. Of course, you've been
involved in the delivery of many, many International Games campaigns.
Do you still get surprised occasionally by something that pops up?
Speaker 4 (07:09):
Surprise every day? Jason is.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
Every campaign is a learning experience.
Speaker 4 (07:17):
There's just it is fascinating. Things can still surprise you.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
But every city is different, and every organizing committee is
different and so you're always dealing with the same stuff,
but it's on a different canvas, you know, so you've
got different challenges. So there's you're never short of surprises.
And that's what I actually love because I love fixing.
Speaker 4 (07:39):
With the team around me. You know.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
Our daily job is just basically troubleshooting and making sure
that the coaches can do their jobs. So we're just
it's like a big jigsaw puzzle every time and it
keeps you, keeps you sharp, and.
Speaker 4 (07:52):
It keeps you thinking.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
So those challengers are actually kind of fun when you
solve them.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Awesome. Well, I've seen heaps a great social media content
back here, our people back here able to follow the games.
Are Are there broadcast options ofailable or not?
Speaker 4 (08:07):
Yeah, there's online broadcast.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
It's called fiesu TV if I su dot TV and
they're dreaming most sports live, so yes you can. And
we're doing I think we're doing. It's not my fute,
but we are doing as much as we as well
in lots of different formats. Don't ask me what those are. Instagram, tektok, Facebook,
(08:33):
and then I'm lost.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
It's like looking at a mirror. I know exactly what
you mean, I know exactly what you mean. Evely, It's
been great to chat. Look, we will follow with interest
the next week or so of our athletes at the
World Uni Games. Thanks so much for taking the time
for a chat today.
Speaker 4 (08:48):
Thank you, Jason.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
It's a wonderful opportunity for them, so appreciate the airtime.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
No, I appreciate you joining us, Evelan. Thanks indeed, shift
a mission of our New Zealand team at the FISU
World University Games in Germany. Evelyn Williamson joining us on
Weekend Sport.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jesson and Fine, listen
live to news talks at b weekends from midday, or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
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