|
Action
hots up for Arafura
By
Michael Weaver
SOME of the best athletes from the Australian Defence Force are
readying themselves for the biennial Arafura Games in Darwin from
May 17-24.
The 7th Arafura Games will see thousands of competitors and officials
from overseas and around Australia gear up to compete.
The ADF traditionally sends its best athletes in a variety of sports
and has also taken away its fair share of medals, with cyclists,
triathletes, lawn bowlers, pistol shooters and sailors among the
gold medal winners at the 2001 games.
The following countries competed at the Arafura Games in 2001: Australia,
Brunei Darussalam, China, East Timor, Guam, Hong Kong, Indonesia,
Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Nauru, New Zealand, North Marianas, New
Caledonia, Pacific Oceania, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore,
South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tahiti, Thailand, USA and Vietnam.
It is expected that these countries will be represented in 2003,
while expressions of interest have also been received from Mauritius,
Malta and Samoa.
Accreditation forms have been sent out to competitors and officials
as the excitement builds for one of the Northern Territory’s
major sporting events. Forms are due back by mid-April.
Sports to be played in 2003 are athletics, Australian football,
badminton, baseball, basketball, boxing, cycling, dragon boat racing,
golf, gymnastics, hockey, lifesaving, judo, lawn bowls, netball,
pistol shooting, sailing, sepaktakraw, soccer, softball, squash,
swimming, table tennis, tennis, tenpin bowling, touch, triathlon,
beach volleyball, indoor volleyball and water polo.
In addition, there will four disabled sports in athletics, basketball,
tennis and swimming.
A multi-million dollar upgrade of Marrara Oval – the home of
the opening ceremony and Australian Rules competition – has
been undertaken and will be ready for the Arafura Games.
The oval’s surface has been returfed and a new drainage system
installed to make the ground suitable for international sport. New
facilities include player dugouts and rehabilitation areas and a
major upgrade of media facilities.
The entire athletics track at Arafura stadium has also been resurfaced
and is ready to host international competition.
The Marrara Sporting Precinct will host more than 10 sports and
allow all those involved in the Arafura Games to walk between venues.
While the opening ceremony details are kept a closely guarded secret,
organisers have already appealed to the creative talents of Territorians
to generate exciting concepts for the opening ceremony.
|
