Jefferson Hagen / MacEwan Athletics

The experience of representing your country is unlike any other.

Athletes will train for years for the chance, while coaches and administrative staff yearn for an opportunity to take their craft to the next level. 

Lindsay Schulha of MacEwan's Athletics Services came by that desire honestly. Growing up, she heard all the tales of far-off lands from her father, Dale Schulha – former University of Alberta Athletics Director – who participated in six Universiades (three Summer and three Winter) in various capacities.

"I kind of grew up with a passion and dream to want to be a part of it," said Lindsay Schulha, who travelled this week to Taipei City, Chinese Taipei as one of 114 mission and support staff for Team Canada's contingent at the 2017 Summer Universiade, which runs Aug. 19-30.

"University sport is obviously a huge part of my family and our history and listening to my dad's stories about Universiade always made me want to be a part of that."

While in Chinese Taipei, Schulha will serve as Team Canada's Accreditation Manager, taking on a similar role as she does for Griffins Athletics, responsible for compliance and administration. This marks the second time she has held that position for Canada, getting her first taste of international competition at the 2015 Summer Universiade in Gwangju, South Korea.

The experience made an undeniable impression on her.

"Representing Canada is an absolute privilege and an honour," Schulha said. "It's something you'll never forget. Walking into the opening ceremonies and being a part of the Canadian delegation is so memorable and such an honour. And being able to be involved with such amazing athletes and our entire delegation … and all the different nations around the world, it's something you'll never forget. 

"Athlete's Village is a pretty phenomenal experience in and of itself. It really is like a little Olympics and it feels that way. That experience is something I will probably never duplicate, even being a part of 2017.

"I'm really looking forward to representing our country again and being a part of the mission staff."

Team Canada's entire contingent of athletes, coaches and support staff is up from 333 two years ago to 388 this year. Athletes will compete in 22 different disciplines from basketball to billiards.

MacEwan University student Vukasin Radosavljevic was slated to go after earning a selection as a member of Team Canada's men's water polo team, but he had to withdraw when he injured his back in a fall last month.

"I was selected to go and I was supposed to be on that flight, but now I'm at home," said Radosavljevic, who was hurt just two days before Team Canada's training camp started.

Still, just hearing his name called as part of the initial roster was an honour for the Science/Business student, who has already had a long youth career of representing Canada at various events in water polo.

"Any time you can represent your country in any fashion on the world stage (is an honour)," he said. "(The Universiade) is the Olympic Games, but not the Olympic Games – it's the closest thing. When I got the opportunity, I was humbled and excited to get to work and get on that team, but …"

Instead he's on the shelf for four-and-a-half months. He will, however, be watching several friends on the team go for gold in Chinese-Taipei.

Events get underway on Aug. 18 with the opening ceremonies slated for Aug. 19. Schulha will arrive a week before that as Team Canada's management staff gets settled in early.

"Part of the thing that makes each Universiade different is that country in which you're inhabiting for that time," said Schulha. "It will be a different dynamic because it's a different culture. We'll have different challenges.

"It is always a phenomenal experience. The volunteers and hosting committee (members) are so excited to have us, so it's a pretty great opportunity to work with them and be a part of what 2017 Taipei has to offer."