Dutch students enjoy Sheffield’s sporting strengths

Dutch students have enjoyed an action packed programme of sport as part of a European cultural exchange organised by The Sheffield College.

Seventy-seven sports students from ROC Nijmegen School in Holland have spent two weeks in Sheffield funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ fund.

During their stay, the students, who are aged 16 to 22-years-old, took part in boxing, climbing, cricket, curling, football, gymnastics, hill walking, ice hockey, ice skating, lacrosse and rugby.

James Firth, Active Project Leader, The Sheffield College, said: “Sheffield has a fantastic international reputation for sport. It was great to share that with our European visitors, thanks to the support of sporting organisations across the city.”

Student Indy Parera, 18, said: “We didn’t know what to expect when we came here, seeing a whole new country, different language and other people.”

She continued: “The programme was full of sports. It was really interesting to see how different countries can be and how kind the people are. Our host family wanted us to feel at home and that really made me feel very welcome.”

Organisations that supported the programme included Attercliffe Gymnastics Academy, Ice Sheffield, English Institute of Sport Sheffield, Sheffield United Football Club, Ingle Boxing Gym, Sheffield Wednesday Football Club, Sheffield Steelers Ice Hockey Club, Sheffield Sharks and St George’s Park near Burton. The students also attended a talk with boxing legend Johnny Nelson.

The Sheffield College’s international department organised the visit from October 21st to November 1st. The Dutch students were based at the College’s Hillsborough Campus on Livesey Street.

Erasmus+ is the EU programme for education, training, youth and sport, and aims to modernise education, training and youth work across Europe.