|
Arafura
action nears for ADF
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 taken away its fair share of medals, with cyclists, triathletes,
lawn bowlers, pistol shooters and sailors amongst the gold medal
winners at the 2001 games.
The following countries competed at the Arafura Games 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.
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 be four disabled sports in athletics, basketball,
tennis, and swimming.
A multi-million dollar upgrade of Marrara Oval — the home of
the opening ceremony — has been undertaken and will be ready
for the Arafura Games.
Another exciting development is the progress of the new basketball
stadium. The $4.4 million venue will include two full-size courts
and seat up to 400 spectators.
The entire athletics track at Arafura stadium has also been resurfaced
and is ready to host international competition.
|
