Darwin Supercars, GleNTi still possible as NT coronavirus restrictions ease

SUPERCARS has ‘no plans’ to cancel its Darwin leg and there is the possibility of a reduced version of Greek festival GleNTi to be held this year as coronavirus restrictions in the NT are rolled back earlier than expected.

There are no plans to cancel the Darwin Triple Crown Supercars in July. Picture: Supplied

SUPERCARS has “no plans” to cancel its Darwin leg and there is the possibility of a reduced version of Greek festival GleNTi to be held this year as coronavirus restrictions in the NT are rolled back earlier than expected.

But major event organisers are firm that no decisions will be made until the federal and NT governments tell them if and when crowds will be allowed again.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner’s first set of restriction rollbacks involved reopening parks, excluding Kakadu and Uluru, at noon on Friday, with a “detailed road map” of what and when other measures will be eased to be released on Thursday.

MORE COVID-19 NEWS

NT records 1000 new arrivals this month, amid border restrictions

Countdown to NT coronavirus ‘eradication’ to begin within days

Territory bars keen to get back to operating under ‘new normal’

He also left the door open to crowds at major dry season calendar events, including Supercars’ Darwin Triple Crown and the Darwin Cup.

“We’ll provide clarity around some of that stuff when we get to the road map and releasing it,” Mr Gunner said on Monday.

“Obviously there’s still significant social distancing rules that will apply. And events often have had to make their own decision about whether they can run or not, and sometimes they’ve gone beyond what the national cabinet or Territory cabinet decisions are.”

Supercars has ‘no plans’” to cancel its Darwin leg. Photo: Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images

A spokeswoman for Supercars said there were no plans to cancel the Darwin leg, due to be held from July 17-19, but no further detail on its 2020 racing calendar would be released until mid-May, when further information was known about border restrictions and lockdown changes.

The Greek GleNTi Festival, usually held in June, was cancelled last month for the first time in its 32-year history.

But Greek Orthodox Community of North Australia president Nicholas Poniris said there were a “few plans in the wing” for a possible significantly scaled-down version of GleNTi sometime this year.

The hugely popular Greek GleNTi Festival could return in 2020, but at a reduced capacity. Picture: Georgia Politis

This depends on how much restrictions are eased and how quickly, as there could be a clash with events on the Greek Orthodox religious calendar.

The Darwin Turf Club, while “hopeful of eased restrictions and the possibility of crowds in attendance”, stood by its position that it would be racing behind closed doors for now.

Full access to our journalism – just $1 for the first 28 days

“The Darwin Turf Club has planned a modified carnival flexible enough to cater for crowds if restrictions are eased. Until then, we will be racing behind closed doors,” chief executive Brad Morgan said.

“Our priority has always been the health and safety of our staff and industry.”