After a years-long pause, one of the Caribbean’s most anticipated regional inter-university sporting competitions has made its official comeback. The 32nd edition of the UWI Games, held under the unifying theme “Reunited, Reignited, Ready,” opened its gates on Friday, May 22 at The University of the West Indies’ St. Augustine Campus in Trinidad and Tobago, drawing more than 600 student-athletes from across the institution’s global network of campuses.
The opening ceremony blended longstanding tradition with vibrant Caribbean cultural celebration, kicking off eight days of competitive action and community connection. The event kicked off with a lively parade of participating campus teams, where athletes marched into the venue proudly bearing their campus colors, while cheering supporters filled the space with rhythmic music, energetic dancing, and enthusiastic chants that set an electric tone for the games. Hosted by the St. Augustine Campus, the ceremony also featured curated cultural performances arranged by the campus’ Department of Creative and Festival Arts, which showcased the rich diversity of Caribbean musical talent, artistic creativity, and centuries-old regional heritage. Following parade and performances, the ceremony culminated in the traditional torch lighting, with Vice-Chancellor Sir Hilary Beckles formally declaring the games open by unveiling the UWI Challenge Trophy.
The feature address at the ceremony was delivered by Jehue Gordon, a UWI alumnus, World Championship gold medalist, and former Olympic finalist, who drew on his own experience balancing elite athletic training with rigorous academic coursework during his time at the university. Gordon shared the unique challenges student-athletes face, recalling the grind of leaving exhausted from lecture halls still heading to hours of training, chasing athletic greatness while navigating the demands of university life. He emphasized that the value of the university experience extends far beyond a degree, noting that UWI gave him a formative environment to build character, lasting relationships, self-discipline, and a broader global perspective, and provided a supportive community that believed in his potential long before the international sporting world knew his name. He encouraged all competing student-athletes to leverage their participation in the games as a pathway to building core life skills including discipline, leadership, and resilience.
Vice-Chancellor Beckles framed the return of the UWI Games as a clear demonstration of the institution’s enduring commitment to integrating student development through both academics and athletics. This year’s games coincide with the 10th anniversary of UWI’s Faculty of Sport, a milestone that Beckles highlighted as a transformative shift for student-athletes: “Students, you no longer have to choose between being an athlete and an academic.”
The 2026 games also mark two historic firsts for the regional competition: this is the first time the relatively new UWI Five Islands Campus will field a team, and the Global Campus is sending its largest delegation in the history of the event. Speaking on behalf of the organizing committee, Derek Chadee, Acting Campus Principal of St. Augustine and chair of both the local and regional organizing committees, welcomed all participants and emphasized that this year’s event is more than a simple resumption of the competition after years of disruption—it is a full renewal of a beloved regional tradition. Chadee also recognized the tireless work of organizers, coaches, support staff, and athletes themselves who worked to preserve the Caribbean’s legacy of sporting excellence through the games.
Additional remarks were delivered by Dr. Roy McCree, Ronson Hackshaw, and Vedanand Hargobin, who spoke on behalf of UWI’s student leadership body. Hargobin stressed that the return of the games fills a critical gap in student life across the entire UWI system, noting that the most meaningful takeaways from the event will extend far beyond medal counts and final scores. “The memories created here will not only be about medals and scores. They will be about friendships, pride, laughter, rivalry and the feeling of being part of one Caribbean university,” he remarked.
Over the eight days of competition, athletes will vie for top honors across ten distinct sporting disciplines: cricket, football, basketball, lawn tennis, swimming, table tennis, hockey, volleyball, track and field, and netball. Beyond competitive play, the 2026 games also integrate a community outreach component: on May 26, student-athletes hosted a sports clinic for children at a local children’s home, designed to provide mentorship, fundamental sports skills development, and positive intergenerational connection between UWI athletes and young community members.
For fans unable to attend in person, all competition action is being streamed live via UWItv digital platforms, and entry to all in-person events remains completely free for UWI students, staff, alumni, and members of the general public to ensure broad access to the regional celebration.