New Zealand will not be participating at the World University Games in Chengdu ©Chengdu 2021

The Board of University and Tertiary Sport NZ (UTSNZ) has decided to not send a team for the Chengdu 2021 World University Games due to the global COVID-19 situation.

The Games, which was supposed to be held in 2021, was postponed and is set to take place from June 26 to July 7 this year.

The International University Sports Federation (FISU) had postponed the event, hoping that it would give them more time to face the challenges that comes with hosting a multi-sport Games during the pandemic.

However, New Zealand decided to not participate considering the risks involved and international travel requirements.

The UTSNZ is aware of the importance of the World University Games for the student athletes and acknowledged that it was not an easy decision to make.

The Games is a great opportunity for those who are looking to transition from junior to senior competitions.

Other teams from New Zealand are mostly able to participate in high-performance events thanks to the support and funding from the Government and the sports sector.

However, UTSNZ, without similar resources, are not able to provide the best-possible experience for the student athletes.   

The UTSNZ is now focused on the 2023 World University Games, set to take place in Ekaterinburg from August 8 to 19.