Four University of Otago students are getting the chance to get up close to the Anzac celebrations in Turkey this month while also getting to either run, hit, swim or cycle.
The students are part of a New Zealand team attending the Gallipoli Games, a new event organised by the Turkish Federation of Sport.
Other counties taking part are Germany, Australia, India, the United Kingdom, France and the host country.
About 600 student athletes will take part in the inaugural games, held in honour of the Gallipoli landings 100 years ago this month.
Nine sports have been chosen and the four students from the University of Otago will compete in four different events.
Georgia Vessey (18), originally from Alexandra, is a road cyclist and will compete in a 67km road race.
She is a first-year student at the Wellington campus of the university, studying radiation therapy.
Georgia Hume (19) is a tennis player, who will play doubles and singles at the games. She comes from Dunedin and is in her second year of a bachelor of commerce and science degree.
Stefannie Gillespie (20), who comes from Dunedin, will dip her toes into some chilly waters.
She will be in an open water swim of 3 miles (5.6km) in the Dardanelles Strait. It is expected to be cold in the water but she is looking forward to the event.
She is in her third year of a bachelor of applied science degree and she also studied French.
Peter Meffan (24) will compete in the cross-country event. It will be a team event of four males and four females, the males running 8km and the females 5km.
All runners will get points depending on where they finish in the pack.
Meffan is originally from Nelson and is in his seventh year of study, his final year at medical school.
The bonus of the trip for the students is that all expenses will be paid by the organisers. It is hoped the event will be held every two years. The students will be away for nine days, including Anzac Day.
Other sports at the games are 3x3 basketball, sevens, sailing, triathlon and athletics.
