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Latrobe chosen to host Southern University Games

Latrobe City Council has accomplished a major sporting coup in being chosen as the host city for the 2005, 2007 and 2009 Southern University Games.

By Latrobe Shire Council - 15th September 2004 - Back to News

The announcement was made today at an official launch held at the Premiere Room Traralgon.

Latrobe City Mayor, Councillor Darrell White, said that over 2,500 competitors in the Southern University Games will converge on Latrobe City in the first week of July 2005, from 17 Universities representing Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.

"Latrobe City and the University sports governing body, Australian University Sport, have recently signed a unique agreement which will not only result in the Southern University Games being hosted by Latrobe City in 2005, 2007 and 2009, but also cluster events and the annual regional conference in the non-games years," Cr White said.

"Cluster events are those sports not conducive to being conducted in the July winter period - for example tennis, golf and swimming, and are held outside the official program timetable of the Southern University Games. These events usually attract between 200 and 500 competitors and officials," Cr White explained.

Cr White predicted that the agreement with Australian University Sport will result in Latrobe City hosting the biggest field of sporting competitors in an event that the region has seen.

"Never before has Gippsland hosted a sporting event in which over 2,500 athletes are competing. This represents an outstanding opportunity for us to showcase Latrobe City in the hope that competitors will one day return as tourists, residents, students or business operators," Cr White said.

The competitors will compete over three days in thirteen sports including football, soccer, table tennis, ultimate frisbee, badminton, volleyball, netball, basketball, baseball, softball, squash, touch rugby and rugby. Venues for the Games are yet to be finalised, however it is expected that venues throughout the entire Latrobe City will be utilised.

"On any given day during the Games, sporting venues in towns such as Moe, Churchill, Newborough, Traralgon and Morwell will be in use. Just as importantly, the competitors will spend four nights in the region’s numerous accommodation venues. In total, it is expected that the six-year agreement will result in over 10,000 visitors to our region and over 40,000 accommodation nights. This signifies a huge boost for the accommodation/tourism industry." Cr White said.

The announcement comes as Latrobe City prepares to host another sporting event of national significance, the final stage of the Herald Sun Tour on October 24 in Traralgon.

Latrobe City’s Chief Executive Officer, Paul Buckley, said he was firm in his belief that the Latrobe Valley was closing in on larger regional cities in terms of becoming the premiere regional event destination in provincial Victoria.

"The Herald Sun Tour final stage and Southern University Games agreements are just two examples of the type of events which have been acquired by Latrobe City. Event acquisition is a key corporate strategy, as their attraction delivers measurable economic benefits to the businesses of our City. In the case of the Southern University Games, accommodation venues, hospitality and entertainment venues, tourism operators and other retail and food outlets will have a healthy injection of customers in what would normally be a quiet winter period," Mr Buckley said.

Mr Buckley added that the Southern University Games would provide a variety of opportunities for all within Latrobe City. "An event of this magnitude requires a great deal of support from the businesses and residents of Latrobe City. In the near future, we will be engaging the community and encouraging potential sponsors, partners and volunteers to join the Latrobe City team. We will also be consulting and working with local sporting groups to encourage beneficial outcomes from the Southern University Games for sport throughout the region. We are committed to making this a true community event and want to ensure those who are interested can participate accordingly," Mr Buckley concluded.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com



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