infonews.co.nz
INDEX
NETBALL

Gold Coast prepares to host the ultimate netball celebration

Tuesday 6 September 2011, 8:55AM

By NetFest

417 views

NetFest
NetFest Credit: NetFest

500 netballers from around Australia and New Zealand will descend on the Gold Coast this week, for the inaugural NetFest event.

Presented by Netball Australia with the support of Events Queensland, NetFest is set to become the ultimate end-of-season netball celebration. Over three action-packed days, 60 teams will battle it out on the court in a mix of indoor, outdoor and beach netball competitions.

In between and after matches, they will have the opportunity to enjoy the many attractions and experiences which have earned the Gold Coast its reputation for being “famous for fun”.

“We’re thrilled that we’ve got nearly 500 netballers – young and old, male and female – joining us on the Gold Coast for the first year of NetFest”, said Netball Australia CEO, Kate Palmer.

“It’s great that we can kick off this event in its inaugural year with the help of so many players as we look to establish the first mass participation netball event of its kind for the years and generations to come.”

Events Queensland CEO John O'Sullivan said NetFest would deliver real tourism benefits to the region’s economy.

“We’re excited to be able to bring NetFest to the Gold Coast for the first time,” Mr O’Sullivan said.

“This is another addition to the dynamic and growing calendar of events being delivered for the Gold Coast by Events Queensland.

“For an event in its first year, NetFest has attracted a number of interstate and overseas visitors with its impressive list of celebrity ambassadors and sporting personalities.”

Member for Broadwater and Parliamentary Secretary for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Bid, Peta-Kaye Croft MP said NetFest’s arrival would build on the city’s fun reputation and further establish the Gold Coast as the ultimate events destination.

“Events like this provide a big boost to local businesses and the community, as well as showcasing to a national and international audience the great venues the Gold Coast has to offer,” Ms Croft said.

“And as the effort to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games continues, events like NetFest reinforce that the Gold Coast is ready in every way.

“With Netball a Commonwealth Games sport, hopefully we will see some of this year’s NetFest competitors here on the Gold Coast in 2018.”

This week’s festivities commence with a beach-themed Opening Night Party to be held at the Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre on Thursday 8 September, and hosted by NetFest ambassadors Summer Burke, Shannon Eckstein and Lauren Phillips.

Teams will play a round robin tournament on Friday and Saturday, with top-ranked teams heading in to the finals matches on Sunday morning.

Lending their support to the NetFesters will be Australian Netball Diamonds Sharelle McMahon and Lauren Nourse. After suffering a season-ending injury mid-way through 2011, former captain McMahon was forced to withdraw from the World Netball Championships which saw Australia successfully defend their title in a thriller against arch rival New Zealand.

In a double-blow, Nourse not only missed the World Championships, but was also sidelined when the team she captains, the Queensland Firebirds, won their first ANZ Championship title earlier in the year.

Both athletes are now well on the road to recovery and looking forward to sharing some of their trade secrets – both on and off the court – with their fellow NetFesters.

Of the 60 registered teams, just over half are from Queensland, with New South Wales the next most represented state (15 teams). Age groups range from 18 up to 58, with 350 participants aged in their 20s and 30s.

To ensure participants are kept informed of news, results and special social offers, Netball Australia has developed a customised NetFest mobile app which is available now through iTunes.

What? Three action-packed days of fun, frivolity and netball, featuring indoor, outdoor and beach competitions

When? 8-11 September 2011

Where? Indoor and outdoor competitions will be held at Runaway Bay, while the beach netball will be played in Broadbeach, next to The Surf Club Kurrawa

Who? 60 teams from around Australia and New Zealand
NetFest ambassadors: Summer Burke, Shannon Eckstein, Lauren Phillips
Special guests: Sharelle McMahon and Lauren Nourse

For further information:
Visit www.netfest.com.au, follow NetFest on Facebook and Twitter or go to www.eventsqld.com.au