Wagga Wagga will have the opportunity to live up to its reputation as a city of good sports with the staging of the 2015 Eastern University Games in July.

The four day multi sport event was officially launched at a ceremony at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga on Friday 13 March.

CSU Vice-Chancellor Professor Andrew Vann encouraged NSW and ACT university and TAFE students to get involved in the Games.

"At Charles Sturt University we encourage a general focus on health and well-being, anything that can get you out from behind a computer to become more active," he said. "Becoming involved in sport through the Eastern University Games is a great example and I hope that students give it their support."

Professor Vann is confident of CSU's home-ground advantage in July and has thrown down the gauntlet to other competing universities.

"At the conclusion of the Eastern University Games, Charles Sturt University will fly the flag of the overall winning team for a week," said Professor Vann.

Speaking at the launch, CSU lawn bowls team member and Bachelor of Education (Primary) student Mr Paul Tarbit described his experience of taking part in seven previous University Games.

 "The highlight was in 2012 when the lawn bowls team picked up gold, silver and bronze, probably the first time any university has had a clean sweep," he said.

"We're aiming to pick up another gold medal this year, after reaching the finals for the last four years of competition."

Australian University Sport (AUS), the governing body of university sport and organising body behind the Games, is also promoting the concept of mixing sport, good health and study.

AUS Director, Mr Brendan Lynch said, "Knowing and understanding sport is a really integral focus for us because it can be a recipe to succeed academically. Part of the Games is understanding the importance of sporting skills, such as time management, to study." 

The 2015 Eastern University Games is a multisport event from Sunday 5 July to Thursday 9 July in Wagga Wagga for university and TAFE students from NSW and the ACT. The event is expected to attract more than 3 000 competitors with 16 sports on offer.

Sport will be played at CSU, Robertson Oval, Rawlings, Jubilee, Paramore and Bolton Parks, local high schools, Jim Elphick Tennis Centre and Wagga Bowling Centre.

The local community is being encouraged to be part of the event by becoming a volunteer or sponsor. Further information about how to become involved is available here: www.unisport.com.au/EUG .

The Eastern University Games will be hosted by CSU in partnership with the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, and Wagga Wagga City Council.

The Games serve as the qualifying competition for many teams aiming to secure a place at the national Australian University Games on the Gold Coast from Sunday 27 September to Friday 2 October.