Sport is a fantastic way to destress, make new friends, and take your mind off of your degree. Durham has the highest student sport participation rate of any institution in the UK, with 75% of students taking part. Here at Durham, sport is great fun for everyone due to the two platforms sport can be played at: college and university.

College sport provides a relaxed and friendly atmosphere for you within John Snow. With a variety of sports to choose from, John Snow teams are made up of those who have never played the sport to those who have played for years. If you're looking to compete within sport, college teams play against other colleges in leagues. There are also many other opportunities to represent John Snow within sport, such as playing in the Hill Colleges vs Bailey Colleges Rugby Charity match or rowing in a John Snow Boat at Durham Regatta!

However, if competing isn't for you, John Snow Sport still provides a space for those who want to use sport to socialise and exercise on a relaxed and fun basis - simply come along to training sessions and have a laugh with friends. Each year, we have a college Freshers' Fair where you can meet all the sport captains - keep an eye out for this! Each club will also have a taster session so you can always try your hand at new sports or join sports you already love whenever it is ready for you! Each club will have an Instagram account or Facebook page and these will advertise training times and matches. Taster sessions and big events, like our college varsity sports day, will be advertised on @johnsnowsport on Instagram so make sure you give it a follow!

University sport (known here at Durham as 'DU', for 'Durham University') is for those who want to compete at a high level. Durham is the UK's Number 1 Team Sport University and has been since 2013. Teams will compete against other universities across the UK and will strive to earn a place at national championships. Team Durham has many athletes competing at international level and have even had past and current student compete at the Olympics! If you would like to get involved with a DU sport, then make sure to attend the University Freshers' Fair during Freshers' Week and find them on social media. Many athletes also progress from college level to DU sport throughout their time at Durham so don’t worry if you don’t get involved straight away!

Ultimately, my job as your Sports Officer is to make sure sport remains accessible and fun for all John Snow students. I personally have made many life-long friends and great memories from sport, and I hope you do too! If you have any questions, please email me at smdb62@durham.ac.uk. I can't wait to see you thriving at Durham!