Athletes ready for Arafura action

Blast from the past: The ADF men’s softball side, which won a silver medal in 2001, will be looking to go one better at this year’s Arafura Games, beginning on May 17.

By Michael Weaver

THE Australian Defence Force’s best athletes are readying themselves for the biennial Arafura Games in Darwin from May 17-24.

The ADF traditionally sends its elite athletes to contest a variety of sports and has also 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.

A host of countries competed at the Arafura Games in 2001, including 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 in April.

The 2003 games will feature a mind-boggling array of sports, including 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 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.

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.

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 a secret, organisers have already appealed to the creative talents of Territorians to generate exciting concepts for the opening.

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