In this Issue

	Let the games begin!
	Local Iwi Welcome Uni Game visitors
	Locals support Uni Games
	Domino's Chill Out Zone Feeds the masses
	Rotorua Businesses Unite
	Social Program
	Free to Air

Games Partners

Feel free to forward this email to friend.

Monday 14 April, 2008

Let the games begin!

Dr Pim Borren, Waiariki Institue of Technology Chief Executive welcomed officials and Rotorua Mayor Kevin Winters declared the Uni Games offically open!

Back to top ^

Local Iwi Welcome Uni Game visitors

Australian University contingent - Team Monash were welcomed onto Waiariki’s Tangatarua Marae with deputy mayor Trevor Maxwell guiding them through the welcoming ceremony.

Cultural aspects were displayed with local performers setting a traditional powhiri (welcome) alongside Monash University Director of Sport – Martin Dolton wearing a traditional korowai (cloak).

Waiariki Kaumatua Ken Kennedy acknowledged the Australian University with a welcoming speech saying how great of an opportunity it is for Rotorua to have them here.
 

Back to top ^

Locals support Uni Games

Without the support of 100 keen local volunteers, accreditation wouldn’t have run as smoothly as it did in the official opening of the Uni Games said coordinator Andrew Petrie.

An enthusiastic volunteer, Charlie Brown also joined the Unigames team with the approach of being this year’s mascot.

“It’s very easy, I wanted to add a bit of fun to the event,” he said.

Today, masses of students from all over the country converged on the Novotel, the Uni Games HQ, with successful registrations.

Major Uni Games sponsor, Domino’s Pizza will be hosting lunch for the volunteers on Friday as a reward for their great effort!
 

Back to top ^

Domino's Chill Out Zone Feeds the masses

The Domino’s Pizza Chill Out Zone is an action packed fun filled ‘free’zone, designed to provide the athletes with somewhere to lax back and unwind in between their events.

There is a plasma TV, old skool spacies, a pool table and of course, free pizza!

Everyday at 12.00pm and 7.00pm, the crew from Domino’s Pizza are expecting to give away hundreds of free pizzas.

Included in their action packed schedule for the week are a range of activities including a Rock, Paper, Scissors tournament, with former New Zealand champion Matt ‘The Fists of Steel’ Martin as a special guest referee, arm wrestling, jelly wrestling and segway races.

Get a slice of the action at the Domino's Chill Out Zone on the Village Green.

Relax and Refuel when you’re not competing! 

Back to top ^

Rotorua Businesses Unite

CBD businesses have joined forces and have become Shop Rotorua in order to grab the attention of more than 2,500 students who are here for the Uni Games.

Shop Rotorua is putting out a promotion where you can win one of three new Diamondback cycles from Bike Vegas, or one $250 shopping spree.

“It’s all about Rotorua, it’s a big promotion,” said Shop Rotorua spokesperson Cath Weston.

With more than 2,500 participants in the Uni Games – students are eligible to enter the draw by attaching receipts to the selected vouchers and the winners are to be announced at the closing ceremony on Thursday. 

Back to top ^

Social Program

Auckland’s Pluto kicked off the party side of the Uni Games with a performance held at the Opening ceremony this evening on Waiariki’s campus.

Tuesday brings a full day of activities - with Domino’s Pizza hosting fun activities and free stuff in their Down-Time tent on the Village Green until 10.30pm.

Night-time fun for students is the Uni-Luge-Nite at Skyline Skyrides, Fairy Springs Rd – with unlimited rides from 5.30pm to 8pm.
Wednesday – Time to sleep! Finals Tomorrow!

Thursday brings the games to an end with Whakatane band - Kora set to pump the stage at this year’s closing ceremony on Waiariki’s campus from 7pm onwards. Newbies Sonz of Zion are also a feature in this year’s party too.
 

Back to top ^

Free to Air

TV Rotorua, TV Central and ITV Live will broadcast a half hour programme covering the 2008 University Games.

In Episode One we’ll meet athletes and officials arriving to the accreditation headquarters at Novotel Rotorua.

Then we’ll see an interview from Rotorua Mayor Kevin Winters and Chief Executive of Waiariki Institute of Technology Dr Pim Borren.

We’ll also hear from other dignitaries and delegates sponsoring the Uni Games.

Local Iwi welcome the visitors from near and far at Tangatarua Marae situated on the Waiariki Institute of Technology Campus.

With a free to air performance from widely acclaimed New Zealand rockers Pluto.

Daily screenings of the Uni Games are on TV ROTORUA and TV CENTRAL at 6:30am and 9:30pm and on ITV LIVE at 7:30am and 9:30pm
 

Back to top ^