Students once again demonstrated their support for the Athletic Union’s Invest In Sport campaign at this year’s annual fun run on January 30.
150 participants donned their running shoes to tackle the 5km course round Bute Park with the aim of raising awareness across campus to Cardiff University’s deficient sports provisions, which have been regularly criticised for being out of date and too small for the needs of Cardiff University’s sports clubs and students.
The Invest In Sport campaign has run for many years now, and the call for more investment in sport remains an important drive for the Athletic Union.
This year’s Invest In Sport Campaign could signal the beginning of real change, as after many years of continued pressure, a sports strategy is in the process of being drawn up,
It is hoped that the University will ratify the strategy before the end of the year, and Athletic Union President, Olly Birrell, hopes that the Invest In Sport campaign will now provide a supporting role for the strategy, to ensure that elements of the sports strategy, when ratified by the University, are carried through, and that pressure for investment is maintained.
On the afternoon of the fun run, the Athletic Union also held the first ever dodgeball tournament in the Talybont sports hall.
The event raised money for Sports Relief, and saw around 100 participants take part in various fancy dress team kits. Ninjas, zombies and even a team of Ben Stiller’s turned up to compete for the prestigious title.
Team ‘Cock and Balls’ won themselves free Summer Ball tickets for their hard fought victory in the final.
The entire day demonstrated the extent of support for sport at Cardiff University that reflects a strong desire and real passion for improved sports provisions at Cardiff University.
1. Adam Troth
I’ve not been at Cardiff for a few years now, so I don’t know if any work on the Park Place gym has been carried out in the meantime. Will this mean that the university gym facilities will be brought up to standard at long last?
2. Jonathan
I proposal went to the Union Council to have a gym in the refited. It was thrown out. Ben Bryant lead the charge against it saying “the union doesn’t exsist to help the university with it’s deficite”. Andy Buttons was in favour. I would have thought the union was here to help students both in paternership and sometimes against the university. Currently there are no plans made public for the upgrading the gym. Well done Ben.
3. Jamie
Adam – I’m a third year, and as far as I know the gym hasn’t changed at all in my time here.
4. Adam Troth
I would have been in my final year when you were a fresher then Jamie. Thanks for confirming. I’m disappointed but not surprised to be honest.
To cross-reference to my contribution to the other thread on depresion and mental illness, which unfortunately 1 in 4 students will have to personally deal with at some point in their studies, experts have determined that going for a run or a good gym workout 3 times a week is as effective at combatting depression as Prozac. Were the Union to invest further in the gym facilities at Park Place and Talybont, they could kill two birds with one stone and ensure a better support system for all.
5. Rikki Gilbey
I was the captain of the real ale madrid 7 aside football team that won the tournement after the dodgeball, why were there no prizes for that? and there was for the dodgeball? and does anyone know where the trophie we won is being kept? Cheers
6. Jonathan
A large proportion of depression is seasonally affected. Therefore light early in the morning either by going outside or Light Boxes helps also.
7. Adam Troth
That would certainly go some way to explaining why the Scandinavian nations have such high suicide rates, while Australia, to give one example, has a far better record on mental health than we do. However, that should not distract us from putting funds where they are needed most.
8. Jamie
A large proportion? Is that of all incidences of depression, or does the season just take some people ‘over the edge’?