Monash is inaugural ‘City in Motion’ for Australia
Published on 19 August 2016
Monash Council and Monash University have successfully won the international bid to become the inaugural ‘City in Motion’ for Australia, jointly hosting a major community sporting event from 18-25 September 2016.
The University and the Council will open up their world class sporting facilities to the local community and students, who will be invited to participate in a range of events to promote health and well-being.
This exciting new initiative was officially launched by international snowboarding champion, Wheelers Hill resident and 2012 Monash University Female Athlete of the Year, Amanda Taylor, at the Monash Aquatic and Recreation Centre on Friday 19 August 2016.
The World University Sport body FISU (Fédération Internationale du Sport Universitaire) has endorsed Monash hosting the event, in recognition of the University’s deep international reach and continuous commitment to building meaningful partnerships with its local communities.
Monash University President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Margaret Gardner AO said ‘Monash in Motion’ demonstrated the depth of the University’s engagement with its local municipality:
“There are no boundaries between Monash and our surrounding community. Many of our students and graduates live and work locally and many residents have strong connections with the University.”
“Building significant and deep relationships with all of the communities in which we operate is fundamental to our core ethos at Monash, whether that’s in the local communities around our Australian campuses or with international communities in India, Italy, Malaysia, Indonesia and China.”
“Monash in Motion’ is a wonderful recognition of those relationships and I look forward to September’s event and its focus on healthy living.”
Monash Mayor Geoff Lake said Monash Council was delighted to partner with Monash University for the event.
“This is a great opportunity to highlight the excellent sporting facilities we have in Monash and to build on the already strong relationship that exists between Council and the University,” Cr Lake said.
“It offers a unique experience for the community of Monash to come together for a fantastic community event. I’d encourage everyone in Monash to get involved whether it’s as a spectator barracking at the soccer friendly match or as a participant at the Come and Try event.”
Team Monash Director Martin Doulton outlined the key elements of this year’s ‘Monash in Motion’:
“A fit and healthy community is something we at Monash take very seriously, whether through our globally recognised sporting clubs or through wider initiatives to promote physical and mental well-being. We are thrilled to be joining forces with our partners in Monash Council to share a week of sporting fun, from a mass T’ai Chi session and a Mega-Swim event to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis to a Water Wise surfing program to encourage water safety amongst our international communities,” Mr Doulton said.
About the ‘City in Motion’ initiative
Following the success of the ‘2015 Lausanne in Motion’, the inaugural International University Sport Festival, FISU launched the opportunity for the rest of the world university sporting communities to consider their involvement in the International University Sport festival celebrating the International Day of University Sport (20th September annually).
With the formal support of Monash Council, Monash University was granted the inaugural City in Motion host in Australia on 22 February 2016 following a successful bid to FISU.
Media contact: Jo Robertson 0418 391 979 or joanne.robertson@monash.vic.gov.au