Olympic gold medallist Nova Peris says Darwin favourable for overseas athletes to acclimatise
Overseas athletes should flock to Darwin in the lead up to the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane, according to a gold medallist, citing the Top End’s weather.
Northern Territory
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OLYMPIC gold medallist Nova Peris says Darwin could become an important training facility for international teams looking to acclimatise to the summer heat ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.
The Territory sporting legend said Darwin could also potentially host events and to prove the city was ready to get a piece of Olympic action, should start holding athletic meets in August and September.
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The Chief Minister has thrown his weight behind the idea, with his office saying the climate is perfect for pre-Games training.
Marrara has already hosted the Hockeyroos and Kookaburra teams and wheelchair basketball side the Rollers in the lead up to the Tokyo Games.
The precinct is also home to a number of Olympic sports, including athletics, basketball, tennis, gymnastics and the clay shooters club.
Darwin’s climate in September ranges from a minimum of 23C to 33C.
Brisbane is slightly cooler with average temperatures between 14C and 24C.
The Top End’s warmer weather could prove a drawcard to northern hemisphere countries coming out of a cold winter and mild summer.
Peris said her 1996 hockey side used Darwin to acclimatise before heading to the Atlanta Games.
“If we can’t host some sports, it’s more than likely we’ll be an important training facility,” she said.
“The Australian men’s and women’s hockey sides (the Hockeyroos and Kookaburras) have already travelled here twice to use Darwin as a training facility.
“Even before the Atlanta Olympics, Darwin was used as a national training and acclimatisation centre.”
But Peris was optimistic on Darwin’s chances of hosting Olympic events.
“There’s no reason we couldn’t do it with the Olympic Games in our country.
“You have to think beyond Brisbane who is the host city and whether some sports could be held in other places.
“Darwin should start the process by saying ‘We can be the platform for the Games’ by holding athletic meets and the like prior to the Olympics, with our perfect weather in the months of August and September.”
Peris said it was “awesome” for Australia to get its third Olympic Games.
“Not only for our sportspeople and the young generation, but for the country as a whole and to be able to promote Australia and what we have.
“The beautiful thing now is it is tangible for our young kids and our potential Olympians in the next 11 years.
A spokesman for Chief Minister Michael Gunner said Darwin would be a perfect base for Olympic teams preparing for the Games.
“We’ve got some great facilities, there’s a great climate,” the spokesman said.
He described Mr Gunner as being “all for” the idea.
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