Athletics Australia – News – 2017 AUSTRALIAN ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Set to span an impressive eight days, the 2017 Australian Athletics Championships will be the largest annual athletics event in Australia and the Oceania-Pacific region in terms of sporting endeavour, participation, whole-of-sport engagement and celebration.

NSW Minister for Sport The Hon. Stuart Ayres MP said, “This is the first time that the sport has combined the two most prestigious track and field events on the athletics calendar. In another win for Sydney, the Sydney Olympic Park’s Athletic Centre will play host to a new week-long competition to be complemented by community participation events, conferences and forums, culminating in the Athletics in Australia Gala.

“Athletes competing will enjoy the $2.3 million upgrade of Sydney Olympic Park’s Athletic Centre completed earlier this year which includes the installation of a new competition surface, a world-class digital videoboard and other upgrades to the centre’s facilities.

“This upgrade of Australia’s premier athletics venue is the largest undertaken since the Athletic Centre played host to the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and ensures our future superstars have access to the best possible facilities.”

Athletics Australia Chief Executive Officer Phil Jones said, “The Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre has invested extensively in new facilities to ensure that as a location for athletics it remains the envy of the nation.

“This investment has allowed Athletics Australia to combine the Australian Junior Athletics Championships and the Australian Athletics Championships, with the coveted title of National Champion the prize for the more than 3500 participants expected to compete."

The 2017 Australian Athletics Championships in their new format has been made possible thanks to the continued support of Destination NSW and the Sydney Olympic Park Authority, with these two valued stakeholders most recently playing host to this year’s Australian Athletics Championships.

About the 2017 Australian Athletics Championships

The 2017 Australian Athletics Championships will become a true festival of Athletics encompassing:

• 8 days of world-class competition, functions, forums, conferences and community participation activities
• 3500 athletes, Ages 12 to Open
• More than 300 officials
• Over 200 coaches
• Thousands of visiting fans, delegates and athletics stakeholders
• Australian and international media coverage
• Selection Trial for the 2017 IAAF World Athletics Championships, the 2017 IPC World Championships and the 2017 IAAF World U18 Athletics Championships

More than a sporting event, the Athletics for a Week: Athletics for Life Festival will comprise many supporting events including (indicative):

• 2017 Australian Athletics Championships (Junior and Open, able-bodied and para-athletes)
• Athletics in Australia Gala encompassing the announcement of:
  • Australian Flame Team for the 2017 IAAF World Athletics Championships and the 2017 IPC World Championships
  • Australian Spark Team for the IAAF World U18 Athletics Championships
  • 2016 Athlete of the Year Awards
• Kids' and Youth Athletics Participation Programs
• Community participation programs and events including recreational running
• Athletics Australia Coaching Conference
• Athletics Officials Seminars
• Athletics Australia Board Meeting
• Member Associations Conference

Click here for the 2016/17 Australian Summer Athletics Season: Calendar of Events. 

Athletics Australia – News