We have experienced something spectacular on the Coffs Coast …. again ….. we have hosted another round of the WRC World Championship!
Yes, our region continues to go around the world in a fast and furious sport: the rally.
A premier event like the WRC will showcase our beautiful region all over the world. Of course, this is fantastic PR and will strengthen the positive image of our region.
The Coffs Coast has more to offer in the ‘sport department’ ….. our region is a very attractive location for many other sports (events) at all levels of competency and for all age groups.
Coffs Harbour City Council has dedicated staff working on attracting events in different sports.
Over the past months we have hosted many events, for example Touch Football World Cup, OZTAG Championships, football/soccer and rugby games at the CEX International Stadium.
On January 27 there will be a Soccer A-League clash between the Newcastle Jets and Melbourne City FC.
The CEX International Stadium is an example of a high-quality facility, that can host events for more than just one sport. Sport infrastructure at an (inter)national standard is crucial if we want to continue to host sport events.
The focus needs to be on infrastructure that has the capacity to allow more sports/events than just one. Events are great for our regional economy: they attract competitors, family, friends & fans, who all eat, sleep and shop in our towns. They create jobs for us.
Some new sport infrastructure projects that may have a similar greater impact as the CEX International Stadium AND that will contribute to our healthy lifestyle may be:
• a large indoor sports centre to international size and standards may facilitate many indoor sports (basketball, tennis, netball, volleyball, dance/physie, gymnastics, fitness, indoor hockey/soccer, etc), but may also hosts music concerts or trade shows
• a full athletics centre will not only provide the large athletics-minded community in Coffs (including triathlons, fitness) with a proper facility, it will also promote the Coffs Coast as a very interesting centre as a (pre-season) training location for a lot of athletes and sport teams that want to enjoy our all year around fantastic climate
• a water/ocean focused facility: a surf (lifesaving) centre located close to the beach, that can become the newest facility to host State, Australian and World competitions and championships.
These are only some ideas of projects with potentially big revenues for our regions, surely other concepts can and will be developed.
Spin off developments of top quality infrastructure may include the attraction of government and association organizations in the sports industry, but also businesses that make, design or sell sport equipment, etc. There is also a link between sport and education: sport management, nutrition, research & development, rehab/exercise/physiotherapy are all related to sport: a sports cluster is growing!
Let’s be ambitious as a region and aim high: let’s become THE Sports Centre on the east coast, centrally located between Sydney and the Gold Coast, with facilities at (inter)national standards and with the ideal climate and characteristics for almost every sport!