The University of the West Indies will stage its first UWI Games since 2019 from May 21 to 29 at the St Augustine Campus in Trinidad and Tobago, with the UWI Five Islands Campus expected to make its debut appearance among the five participating campuses in the regional sporting tournament.

More than 575 athletes and officials from UWI’s seventeen contributing countries will compete across ten sporting disciplines at seven venues, marking the return of the academic tradition that was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The theme for this UWI Games this year is “Reunited, Reignited, Ready” to capture the spirit of the resumption.

Professor Rose-Marie Belle-Antoine, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal of the UWI St Augustine Campus, said the Games hold significance beyond athletic competition.

Bell-Antoine outlined the scale of the undertaking, which will draw 300 volunteers and involve national-level athletes.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Hilary Beckles described the Games as essential to the university’s identity.

“For generations, these inter-campus Games have been the heartbeat of our student experience,” Sir Hilary said.

He pointed to the establishment of the Faculty of Sport a decade ago as a recognition that the Caribbean is “extremely rich, not only in sport and talent, but in the love of sport.”

Professor Derek Chady, Deputy Principal of the UWI St Augustine Campus and Chair of the Organising Committee, said preparations have been underway for several months across all campuses.

“The UWI Games are not only about competition and organisation, but about what they shape within our students,” Chady said.

He added that six of the 10 disciplines for the Games will be team sports, including cricket, football, basketball, hockey, volleyball and netball, while lawn and table tennis, swimming and track and field round out the programme.