Perth to host exciting international sporting matches during CHOGM 2011
Perth will host two international netball matches, featuring four of the top seven teams in the world, and an international hockey tournament with an exciting new format in the week leading up to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) this October.
21 March 2011
Premier Colin Barnett recently joined Federal Defence Minister Stephen Smith at the Perth Hockey Stadium to announce the sporting program involving Commonwealth countries.
The Federal and Western Australian governments will jointly fund the sporting events which start on Thursday, October 20 with the hockey tournament involving teams from Australia, India, Pakistan, New Zealand and Malaysia.
The tournament will be held at the Perth Hockey Stadium in Bentley from Thursday, October 20 to Sunday, October 23.
A feast of international netball begins on October 23 at the Burswood Dome when South Africa and Malawi play a curtain raiser to the Australian Diamonds v New Zealand Silver Ferns Test match.
Mr Barnett said the Government was pleased to bring these two major international sporting events to WA.
“Sport has the power to cross national, political and religious boundaries to bring people together in fair and friendly competition. In a sports-mad country like Australia, these sporting events will give fans the chance to see elite athletes pitting themselves against the best in the world,” he said.
“The State recognises the importance of attracting major international events and we are constantly looking to secure new and exciting events to improve vibrancy and draw visitors to WA.”
Netball
Australia chief executive officer Kate Palmer said the Diamonds v Ferns
match, part of the Holden Netball Test Series, promised international
netball at its best with the world’s top two teams vying for the
Constellation Cup.
The inclusion of the South African Proteas, ranked sixth in the world, taking on the seventh ranked Malawi Queens, meant sports fans would also get to experience the diverse range of styles across the four nations.
“This special sporting fixture is an unprecedented opportunity to witness some of the world’s greatest players in action,” Ms Palmer said.
“We are delighted international netball is set to return to Perth for the first time since 2005, when the Diamonds hosted South Africa.
"This is ‘must see’ netball – fast, furious and physical."
Hockey
Australia chief executive officer Mark Anderson said the CHOGM 2011
hockey tournament, featuring men’s and women’s competitions, would be
unlike any other hockey event in the world.
Known as the
International Super Series, the tournament would see Australia play host
to some of the world’s top teams in an innovative form of the game.
“For
the first time ever, hockey will introduce several new and unique rules
developed to make the game even faster and more exciting, with fans
sure to experience hockey like they have never seen it before,” Mr
Anderson said.
“Given that we will be
unveiling a new modified version of hockey aimed to generate lots of
excitement and interest, it is also an opportunity to demonstrate Hockey Australia’s innovative nature both on and off the pitch.”
Tickets for both sports will go on sale in the coming months. For more information go to http://www.hockey.org.au and http://www.netball.asn.au
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