Games a golden boost to our region

LISMORE may play host to sporting teams from around the world in the weeks leading up to the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

LISMORE may play host to sporting teams from around the world in the weeks leading up to the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

Lismore City Council event co-ordinator John Bancroft said the council hoped teams would use some of the town's world-class sporting facilities for practice.

Mr Bancroft said, while he had not seen the game's final sports list, it was possible teams may be interested in using Goonellabah Sports and Aquatic Centre for netball.

Other possible facilities would be Oakes Oval and Crozier Field Complex for rugby and soccer.

Mr Bancroft said that during the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Lismore's Albert Park had attracted baseball teams from Cuba, Japan and Italy as well as the Australian team, while an archery duo from Canada practised at Arthur Park.

Mr Bancroft said the game's organisers prepared a handbook for competing countries which listed all the facilities which were available in the region. The council may also invite certain countries to use Lismore's facilities.

And while the use of local facilities for practice was unlikely to bring major financial windfalls to the region, it would help raise their profile, he said.

COMMONWEALTH GAMES FACTS

• Expected economic windfall of $2 billion
• Creation of 30,000 jobs
• $500 million investment in infrastructure
• $40 million redevelopment of Gold Coast Aquatic Centre.
• More than 100,000 international and domestic visitors expected.

Originally published as Games a golden boost to our region