Athletics Australia – News – Melbourne to host Nationals after Victorian Government investment

The Victorian Government has today confirmed a generous investment of $120,000 toward the hosting of the 92nd Australian Athletics Championships and the IAAF Melbourne World Challenge.

Guaranteeing continued vital support for the Australian domestic athletics season, the contribution brings two bumper track and field events to the state-of-the-art Lakeside Stadium as part of the 2014 National Athletics Series, incorporating the Australian Athletics Tour.

“The Victorian Government have been long-time supporters of track and field in Australia and this new undertaking highlights their continued dedication to bringing major sporting events to the state of Victoria. We couldn’t be happier and thank them wholeheartedly,” Dallas O’Brien, Athletics Australia Chief Executive Officer, said.

“Lakeside Stadium is one of the best venues for athletics in the country, providing world-class facilities for athletes, officials and spectators. For this reason, it is the ideal location for the Melbourne World Challenge, which will again open the prestigious 15-meet IAAF World Challenge series.

“Melbourne will also host the Commonwealth Games Selection Trial to be incorporated to the 92nd Australian Athletics Championships, which is timed to assist our High Performance Program by providing athletes with an opportunity to peak for not only the Games but also their Selection Trial earlier in the year.”

“The Coalition Government is committed to maintaining, developing and attracting top sporting events and athletes to Victoria,” the Hon. Hugh Delahunty, Minister for Sport and Recreation, said.

“Events like these attract large numbers of visitors, provide a stimulus for the economy and showcase athletes whose performances help to inspire us all to take sports participation to a whole new level.

“More importantly by hosting elite athletics events we can continue to show local and international athletes and sports fans just why Victoria is considered one of the sporting centres of the world.” 

The confirmation of a venue for the national championships has also allowed for the finalisation of the 2014 National Athletics Series calendar, with world-class track and field once again descending on every state in Australia.

Launching on 12 December with the Zatopek:10 and the Australian 10,000m Championships in Melbourne, the Hunter Track Classic on 18 January in Newcastle sees the return of track and field in the New Year before Hobart’s Briggs Athletics Classic and the Adelaide Track Classic entertain fans in February.

The Australian Athletics Tour will head to Perth (22 February), Sydney (15 March) and Melbourne (22 March), with the Sydney event being held alongside the 5th Australian Junior Athletics Championships (12-16 March). In a positive step forward for the sport, the Australian Junior Athletics Championships will for the first time incorporate events for athletes with a disability as part of Athletics Australia’s commitment to the integration of able-bodied and para-athletics.

The Queensland Track Classic in Brisbane closes out the domestic season before the 92nd Australian Athletics Championships provide the ideal bookend to a summer of athletics across the first weekend of April.

“The 2014 National Athletics Series will be a very busy one, but we are pleased with the current format of the season and look forward to the pinnacle events of the Australian Athletics Tour entertaining fans across the course of a month from late February to late March,” O’Brien added.

“After the success of combining the Junior Nationals and the Perth Track Classic this year the decision was made to once again do this in 2014 and we thank Athletics New South Wales for making this happen. It’s a great way to engage the next generation with our current stars and we look forward to a big week at Sydney Olympic Park.”

Athletics Australia look forward to sharing the 2014 National Athletics Series, incorporating the Australian Athletics Tour, with athletes, coaches, officials and spectators.

Additional announcements relevant to the Australian domestic athletics season, including the 2014 Commonwealth Games Selection Policy, will be made intermittently in the coming weeks.

 

Athletics Australia – News

 

2014 NATIONAL ATHLETICS SERIES (incorporating the Australian Athletics Tour)

December
6-8             Australian All-Schools Championships, Townsville (Qld)
9                Australian Schools Knockout Championships, Townsville (Qld)
12              Zatopek:10 (Aust. 10,000m Championships), Melbourne (Vic)
15              Australian 50km Race Walking Championships, Melbourne (Vic)
January
18              Hunter Track Classic, Newcastle (NSW)
February
1                Briggs Athletics Classic, Hobart (Tas)
2                Australian 20km Race Walking Championships, Hobart (Tas)
15              Adelaide Track Classic, Adelaide (SA)
22              Perth Track Classic, Perth (WA)
March
12-16         5th Australian Junior Athletics Championships, Sydney (NSW)
15              Sydney Track Classic, Sydney (NSW)
22              IAAF Melbourne World Challenge, Melbourne (Vic)
29              Queensland Track Classic, Brisbane (Qld)
April
3-6             92nd Australian Athletics Championships &      
                  Commonwealth Games Selection Trial, Melbourne (Vic)