Asia New Zealand Foundation Confirms Funding Support for University of Auckland Men's Football Team for FISU University World Cup Football Event in China

UTSNZ is thrilled to announce that the Waipapa Taumata Rau - University of Auckland Men's Football Team has received confirmation of funding support from the Asia New Zealand Foundation Te Whītau Tūhono for their participation in the highly anticipated FISU University World Cup Football event. The tournament will take place in Jinjiang, China 21-31 Oct, bringing together top university teams from across the globe to compete for football supremacy.

Thanks to the generous support of the Foundation, the University of Auckland Men's Football Team will not only have the opportunity to showcase their skills on the international stage and represent New Zealand proudly at this prestigious event, but will also be able to plan for and facilitate a greater cultural exchange between them and their Asia hosts.

The FISU University World Cup Football event is renowned for its high level of competition and offers a unique platform for aspiring footballers to gain exposure, develop their skills, and build lasting international networks. As the University of Auckland's Men's Football Team prepares for this thrilling competition, they will face off against formidable opponents from around the world, fostering camaraderie and sportsmanship along the way.

Jessica Brierley, University of Auckland Sports Team Leader, expressed her gratitude for the support received, stating, "We are incredibly grateful to the Asia New Zealand Foundation for their generous funding, which allows our student-athletes not only to test their abilities against top-tier competition but also strengthen cultural ties between New Zealand and Asia."

The Foundation's funding support is part of the Schools Sports Fund which provides opportunities for students to engage in cultural activities while travelling to Asia for sports-related purposes. Participation in cultural activities such as local festivals, museums, galleries and craft workshops broadens each student’s understanding of Asia.

“The purpose of the School Sports Fund is to inspire students from New Zealand to engage with the countries and cultures of Asia, beyond their sporting endeavours,” said Adele Mason, Deputy Executive Director of the Asia New Zealand Foundation. “The Foundation hopes to ignite their curiosity about the region and motivate a desire to learn more. We enjoy seeing students sharing their experiences with fellow students, friends and whānau on their return home.”

UTSNZ commends the Foundation on this initiative which not only promotes sports diplomacy but also fosters cultural understanding and strengthens relationships between New Zealand and countries across the region, who are increasingly hosting international sports fixtures.

Evidence of Asia becoming a bigger player on the global stage for major sporting events has been recently highlighted in a report by the Foundation

UTSNZ commends the Foundation on this initiative which not only promotes sports diplomacy but also fosters cultural understanding and strengthens relationships between New Zealand and Asian nations, whom are increasingly hosting international sports fixtures.

Evidence of Asia becoming a bigger player on the global stage for major sporting events has been recently highlighted in a report by the Asia NZ Foundation – The Rising Impact of Asia on New Zealand Sport. This report also shares sportspeople’s experiences and learnings from their time in Asia and makes a range of recommendations to better equip athletes and sports people to thrive in Asia. A copy of the report can be downloaded here.

ENDS

About the FISU University World Cup Football

The 2023 FISU University World Cup Football will be held on in Jinjiang, China, 21 -31 Oct.

A total of 12 men teams and 8 women teams will participate in the 2023 FISU World Cup Football, fighting for the supreme honour of university football and offer another spectacular competition to the world. Results and final rankings of the Continental Qualifying Tournaments will confirm the final teams participating in the 2023 edition. In addition, some spots will be allocated through FISU Wildcards. For more on the FISU University World Cup Football event visit https://www.fisu.net/sport-events/fisu-university-world-cups/football

About The Asia New Zealand Foundation Te Whītau Tūhono

Established in 1994, the Asia New Zealand Foundation’s activities cover more than 20 countries in Asia and are delivered through a range of core programmes: arts, business, education, entrepreneurship, leadership, media, research, Track II diplomacy and sports. The Foundation is guided by its board of trustees and is supported by a network of Honorary Advisers in New Zealand and Asia. For more information, visit www.asianz.org.nz