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Thursday, 31 March 2011

Lucky Numbers For CCCU Sports


CANTERBURY Christ Church University students are jumping for joy after hitting the bonus and securing National Lottery funding.
CCCU has secured nearly  £175,000 from Sport England National lottery funding that will be used to kick start and encourage more people to take up sports. Such is British sport's obsession with London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
CCCU director of Sport, Dr Andrew Balson said: “This will allow students to have the opportunity to try a variety of sports. 

"Our aim is to work in partnership with national governing bodies and local sport providers, especially sports clubs such as Polo Farm Sports Club in Canterbury, where we can integrate our students into playing sport in the local community whilst they are studying."
Students at CCCU believe this could be a flying start to the future of their university.

Sports sabbatical officer, Steph White, 23, said: "We are so lucky to be one of the few universities to be offered such a large amount of money to go directly into sport.

"174,000 will mean a coordinator to increase particpation and increase the variety of what sport and exercise opportunities there are at Christ Church, and hopefully the impact this money will have on sports here will go a long way to attracting prosepctive students when fees rocket to 9,000.

"The sports federation is booming at the moment and I can only wonder the enjoyment future students will get belonging to a federation bigger and better."


Matt Garner, 21, studying sport science and on the mens football team said: "I think this is a great opportunity for CCCU to get on the map and be recognised for its sporting ability.


"This university isn't known for its academic ability and rightly so. Many think University of Kent is better and you can't really deny that it isn't when their 20 odd in the university league table and we're something like 107th out of 118.


"So if this university can get recognised for its sporting side, they could potentially bring a lot of sporty students."
James Alder, 21, studying History and sports psychology said: "I am a keen sports man and this we be a great benefit for CCCU. But to be honest, I play cricket, football, golf and whether this university had little funding for sport teams, it wouldn't throw me off sport one bit. You play a sport because you love it.

"Sport has changed. Supporters remained loyal to local teams rather than switching to commercial 'brands' teams, who have that extra cash in their back pocket. It's the same with the professionals. They play for money now. I hate it.

"You'll have a much better time watching a local team in league two. You see fans with their football scarves and their burgers all chanting for their team."
What sport do you participate in and do you think it could be improved? For more information click here.