Student athletes on track for Sheffield 2016

10th December 2014

One of the UK's biggest student sporting events will come to Sheffield in 2016, thanks to a partnership between Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield City Trust and British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS).

Sheffield Hallam will host BUCS Big Wednesday in March 2016. The day-long festival of sport will see the BUCS Championship finals for rugby league, netball, basketball, squash, football, hockey, indoor cricket, tennis, lacrosse, volleyball, fencing, badminton and table-tennis. The University's Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Liz Barnes, said: "We are really excited to be hosting this day of events as Sheffield Hallam is committed to and promotes sport and physical activity at all levels. Our athletes compete in a range of sports, including some at national and international levels. This summer, 10 of our high-performance athletes competed at the Commonwealth Games. "This initiative is enabled through our partnership with Sheffield City Trust and the enhancement of our sport facilities in Sheffield, with our recent £6m investment into Sheffield Hallam University Sports Park and the Sheffield Hallam University City Athletics Stadium. We also have our satellite campus at the English Institute of Sport Sheffield." As the UK's first National City of Sport, Sheffield has some of the finest facilities in the country. Dom Stokes, general manager of Sheffield City Trust events, said: -It is fantastic news that Sheffield has once again secured a major BUCS event. -For so many years now, we have been intrinsically linked with BUCS, delivering their blue riband event, the BUCS Nationals, as well as the Short Course Swimming Championships. -We are extremely proud to be facility partner with Sheffield Hallam University for BUCS Big Wednesday, and it promises to be a great event. Events will take place at venues across the city, including Graves Tennis and Leisure Centre, Ponds Forge International Sports Centre, English Institute of Sport Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University Sports Park, and Abbeydale Sports Club. During the event, almost 100 Sheffield Hallam students will volunteer in key roles, such as facilities management, event management and media.