Fourth-year Forestry student Barb Sharp will be representing UNBC at the World University Games later this month in Italy. Barb will be the first UNBC student to ever attend the World University Games.

The games will be held in Tarvisio, Italy and are expected to attract about 1500 student-athletes from a record 49 countries. The Biathlon competition will start on January 19th and continue until the Games end on the 26th.

"The biathlon events will be run in a community called Forni Voltri and I've raced there once before in a previous competition," says Barb, who has competed internationally for four years - two as a junior and two as a senior. "With multiple sports and athletes from around the world, I'm sure there is going to be an Olympic atmosphere around this event. It'll be great to meet other athletes who also have to balance the rigours of their sport with the demands of being a university student - it'll be an interesting group of people."

Barb moved to Prince George from Salmon Arm five years ago to capitalize on the opportunity to gain greater experience in Biathlon while also attending university. She is expecting to graduate from UNBC at the 2004 Convocation ceremony.

Results from the World University Games will be posted at www.tarvisio2003.org