Uni Games a Business and Jobs Coup for Australia's Gold Coast and South-East
Premier Peter Beattie said today the Gold Coast will host one of the nation's biggest multi-sport contests in 2007, after Queensland won the hosting rights for two Australian University Games in three years.
Mr Beattie said organisers expected the 2007 games to attract more than 5000 people and cause a surge of business and employment activity for the Gold Coast.
'The six-day Australian University Games are among the nation's biggest annual multi-sports contests, so winning this event is a coup for the Gold Coast,' Mr Beattie said.
'The Gold Coast event is likely to be staged in late September 2007.
'The Queensland Government, through Queensland Events, has in fact won two Australian University Games for the Smart State, with Brisbane set to host a fixture from 25-30 September 2005.
'Next year will be a home-coming for the games, which began in Brisbane in 1993.
'Each of the six-day events will attract more than 5000 people and showcase the cream of university sporting competitors from some 47 university campuses around Australia.
'The athletes will include some who may progress to national and international sporting stardom,' Mr Beattie said
Elite sports people who competed in past Australian University Games include pole vaulter Emma George, sprinter Patrick Johnson and cricketer Geoff Lawson.
Mr Beattie said: 'The games are renowned for being fiercely competitive, yet friendly.
'Busy week-long social programs for the Gold Coast and Brisbane events will ensure opportunities for businesses in South-East Queensland - particularly for tourism and hospitality,' he said.
The Government has a two-year agreement with Australian University Sport, the peak governing body of university sport in Australia.
Mr Daniel Marsden, Chief Executive Officer of AUS said: 'Accommodation providers, food and beverage outlets, taxi and transport providers, retailers and tourist operators are set to be among the greatest beneficiaries from the games.
'In addition to the commercial beneficiaries, sporting clubs, partner universities and in particular local university sporting participants will benefit from the non-commercial legacies the games will deliver,' said Mr Marsden.
'The Games will attract quite a few current and prospective Olympic and national representatives in their chosen sports. Brisbane hosted the inaugural games in 1993, and like the Olympics this year, the games will return to their Brisbane origins in 2005.'
Approximately 20 sporting venues throughout Brisbane and surrounding areas will accommodate the sports, and more than 500 volunteers will help the games run smoothly.
The 26 sports scheduled for next year's games are: athletics, Australian football, badminton, baseball, basketball, beach volleyball, cross country, cycling, diving, hockey, judo, kendo, netball, rock climbing, rowing, rugby union, soccer, softball, squash, swimming, tae kwon do, tennis, touch, ultimate frisbee, volleyball, and water polo.
Individuals must attain a minimum standard to compete, while team sports require campuses to qualify for the 16 available places through a series of preliminary regional university competitions held throughout the country.
For further information about the Games visit www.unigames.com.au or contact Queensland Events on 07 3222 1000 or visit www.queenslandevents.com.au .
For more details contact: Premiers Office: 3224 4500
Australian University Sport: Mick Cronan - 3832 9874 or 0413 464 177
Mr Beattie said organisers expected the 2007 games to attract more than 5000 people and cause a surge of business and employment activity for the Gold Coast.
'The six-day Australian University Games are among the nation's biggest annual multi-sports contests, so winning this event is a coup for the Gold Coast,' Mr Beattie said.
'The Gold Coast event is likely to be staged in late September 2007.
'The Queensland Government, through Queensland Events, has in fact won two Australian University Games for the Smart State, with Brisbane set to host a fixture from 25-30 September 2005.
'Next year will be a home-coming for the games, which began in Brisbane in 1993.
'Each of the six-day events will attract more than 5000 people and showcase the cream of university sporting competitors from some 47 university campuses around Australia.
'The athletes will include some who may progress to national and international sporting stardom,' Mr Beattie said
Elite sports people who competed in past Australian University Games include pole vaulter Emma George, sprinter Patrick Johnson and cricketer Geoff Lawson.
Mr Beattie said: 'The games are renowned for being fiercely competitive, yet friendly.
'Busy week-long social programs for the Gold Coast and Brisbane events will ensure opportunities for businesses in South-East Queensland - particularly for tourism and hospitality,' he said.
The Government has a two-year agreement with Australian University Sport, the peak governing body of university sport in Australia.
Mr Daniel Marsden, Chief Executive Officer of AUS said: 'Accommodation providers, food and beverage outlets, taxi and transport providers, retailers and tourist operators are set to be among the greatest beneficiaries from the games.
'In addition to the commercial beneficiaries, sporting clubs, partner universities and in particular local university sporting participants will benefit from the non-commercial legacies the games will deliver,' said Mr Marsden.
'The Games will attract quite a few current and prospective Olympic and national representatives in their chosen sports. Brisbane hosted the inaugural games in 1993, and like the Olympics this year, the games will return to their Brisbane origins in 2005.'
Approximately 20 sporting venues throughout Brisbane and surrounding areas will accommodate the sports, and more than 500 volunteers will help the games run smoothly.
The 26 sports scheduled for next year's games are: athletics, Australian football, badminton, baseball, basketball, beach volleyball, cross country, cycling, diving, hockey, judo, kendo, netball, rock climbing, rowing, rugby union, soccer, softball, squash, swimming, tae kwon do, tennis, touch, ultimate frisbee, volleyball, and water polo.
Individuals must attain a minimum standard to compete, while team sports require campuses to qualify for the 16 available places through a series of preliminary regional university competitions held throughout the country.
For further information about the Games visit www.unigames.com.au or contact Queensland Events on 07 3222 1000 or visit www.queenslandevents.com.au .
For more details contact: Premiers Office: 3224 4500
Australian University Sport: Mick Cronan - 3832 9874 or 0413 464 177