March 2018
Sporting enthusiasts can look forward to witnessing the best of Australian athletics when the nation’s top athletes arrive in Sydney to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games at the upcoming Australian Track & Field Championships.
Minister for Sport Stuart Ayres said the NSW Government will contribute funding to the 2019 and 2020 Australian Track & Field Championships, supporting Olympic qualification at Sydney Olympic Park.
“This follows on from the very recent success of the 2017 Australian Athletics Championships, which saw more than 3,000 junior and senior athletes compete in right here in Sydney,” Mr Ayres said.
“The 2017 Australian Athletics Championships delivered close to $6 million in visitor expenditure to the NSW economy from interstate and international travel and I am confident the series of events will continue to support our economy.”
Today’s announcement coincides with the Australian Junior Athletics Championships which are currently underway at Sydney Olympic Park.
“It is exciting to think that the future stars competing today will join senior athletes in Sydney next year.”
Athletics Australia President Mark Arbib said the national sporting organisation will work in conjunction with the Office of Sport, Athletics NSW and Little Athletics to deliver sport and community development activities over the next few years.
“Our goal is for athletics to be the largest participation sport in Australia and we’re well on the way to doing that with over three million Australians, aged 15 and over, participating in athletics through track and field, jogging and running last year,” Arbib said.
“Events like the Australian Track & Field Championships allow us to promote the sport throughout the community helping to build role models and health and well-being. We look forward to working closely with our partners Office of Sport, Athletics NSW, Little Athletics,
parkrun and Coles to ensure we leave a lasting legacy for both athletes and the community.”
Further information will be released by Athletics Australia following the 2018/2019 Athletics in Australia Summer Season announcement. For more information visit: www.athletics.com.au