Mackay officially hands over the mantle to Townsville
In keeping with the long term tradition, the Suncorp North Queensland Games flame has been delivered to Townsville, from Mackay, the host region for the 2006 Games.
With just over 100 days to go to the start of the largest Regional Games in Australia, to be held in the Townsville Region from 11 to 14 April 2008, the end is in sight.
Pictured are Mackay City Councillor Don Rolls and Chair of the 2006 Organising Committee handing over the Games torch to Townsville City Councillor Les Walker, the Chair for the 2008 Games. Looking on is Townsville Board member of the North Queensland Sports Foundation, Dan Jackson.
Held on a rotational basis in the four major centres of Townsville, Mount Isa, Cairns and Mackay, the Games have been held biennially since 1984, with next year’s Games being the thirteenth event. The North Queensland Sports Foundation will be celebrating its 25th year in 2008, and next year’s Games will return to the Townsville Region where it all started back in 1984.
Significantly the Games will not be held next year at Easter for the first time, with the dates being 11 to 14 April 2008. The Games are shaping up once again to be a huge event with forty five sports included in a very large programme of sporting activity. All the planning for the event is on schedule, with the nominations brochure being distributed at the launch.
Local Councils throughout North Queensland have once again thrown their support behind the Games and in particular the Townsville City Council and Thuringowa City Council have both demonstrated great assistance.
The Games has once again attracted strong sponsorship from a number of companies as well as Government funding. Suncorp, as naming rights sponsor will once again support the event as it has since the Games were created. Other sponsors include Defence Force Recruiting, Queensland Events, Sport and Recreation Queensland, WIN Television, HOT FM, Powerade, Townsville Bulletin, Mercure Inn, Mazmac Event Management and Origin Energy.
The headquarters for the Games will be at Sports House in Belgian Gardens. Manager of the North Queensland Sports Foundation, Stuart Gibson is delighted with the planning so far, and looks forward to welcoming many thousands of people to the Townsville Region for next year’s 2008 Suncorp North Queensland Games.
For further information: Phone Stuart Gibson (Manager) at the Foundation office in Townsville on 4724 2500, or on mobile 0419 681 053.
