Oceania Athletics Championships set to come to Mackay in $2.5 million economic boost to region

The Oceania Athletics Championships is set to race in Mackay in 2022, with more than 10,000 beds expected to be booked in the region. Here’s what it means for our aspiring athletes.

Mackay has burst out of the blocks and will receive a welcome multimillion-dollar boost to its economy after securing an athletics carnival this year.

The region has secured the Oceania Athletics Championships, and will host the event in June, 2022.

Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson said he expected the region would welcome athletes from both interstate and abroad.

Executive Director of Oceania Athletics Association Yvonne Mullins and Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson announce Mackay will host 2022 Oceania Championships. Picture: Madeleine Graham

“Hopefully all those people when they are not competing will go out and see the region,” he said.

“They will go out and see the platypus in Eungella or the wallabies on the beach out on Cape Hillsborough.

“Those are the sorts of attractions we have to get people to see.”

The championships are expected to generate $2.5m in economic boosts for the region, with about 11,725 beds expected to be booked across the carnival.

It will be the seventh time an Australian regional city will host the championships, but it will be the first time for Mackay.

Executive Director of Oceania Athletics Association Yvonne Mullins says the 2022 Oceania Athletics Championships in Mackay will involve athletes of all ages and abilities. Picture: Madeleine Graham

Oceania Athletics Association executive director Yvonne Mullins said it would be the first time the championships included athletes of all ages and abilities.

“All athletes, all age groups and abilities, it is going to be one heck of a festival for athletics,” she said.

“The master athletes will make a comeback this year, with the Queensland Masters Champion as well as the Oceania Championship being held.”

Tom O'Shaughnessy, Alison Fairweather, Yvonne Mullins, Greg Williamson and Dayne O'Hara at Mackay Aquatic and Recreational Complex. Â Picture: Madeleine Graham

She said athletes from 23 different countries were invited to compete, but current border restrictions may cause some issues.

“We hope to have most of the countries be able to travel but there are still some border restrictions,” she said.

“We have got to hope they can get across the borders.

“So at the moment, we are probably planning for about 15 to 16 counties to participate, which is fabulous.”

Ms Mullins said many of the athletes who compete in Oceania would go on to the Commonwealth and Olympic Games.

“It is an opportunity for athletes to get ranking points to go through to the world championships and to cement their places and teams for the World Junior Championships and Commonwealth Games,” she said.

“It is an opportunity for Mackay, Queensland and Australia to show how great they are at hosting esteem international events and to ensure all our athletes have the opportunity to compete in a first class facility in a regional city.”

Tom O'Shaughnessy, Alison Fairweather, Yvonne Mullins, Greg Williamson and Dayne O'Hara at Mackay Aquatic and Recreational Complex. Picture: Madeleine Graham

Mr Williamson said it was a tribute to Mackay’s facilities and organisers for this event to go ahead.

“As I keep saying, regional Australia is where the growth is going to be,” Mr Williamson said.

“Covid economy over the last couple of years has produced a huge shift in investment out of the metropolitan areas into regional Australia.

“We know as a city we can host, everybody’s friendly, we have the facilities to do it and that is what we need to capitalise on for Australia’s focus on the regions we need events like these.

The championships will take place from June 7 to 11 at the Mackay Aquatic and Recreational Complex.