By SONJA KOREMANS
WARWICK and Stanthorpe sporting teams hope to share some of the limelight of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
A bid will be entered by the Southern Downs Regional Council to host pre-event training in the region for the 2018 games.
SDRC Mayor Peter Blundell met with about 20 sporting bodies in Stanthorpe and Warwick this week to discuss the proposal.
SDRC Manager Planning and Development Cecil Barnard said the meetings were met with positive response.
“People are very excited at the prospect of this. It is clear that there is a high level of interest for our area to be involved in this event,” he said.
Mayor Peter Blundell said that hosting the training in the Southern Downs would be a massive boost to the region’s economy.
“Hosting pre-event training here would mean that thousands of people would come to our area and spend money on accommodation, food and other living expenses.”
Mr Blundell said the region’s hockey and shooting facilities in particular were suited to pre-event training.
“We have some great sporting facilities on the Southern Downs and the two that we have focused on are hockey and shooting, but we have also had fantastic representation from cycling groups, bowling, gymnastics and a whole range of sports.
“Council’s Economic Development Unit and interested sporting bodies are now developing a prospectus to present to the games’ organisers.”
Eighteen sporting facilities will be submitted for consideration for training including athletics, swimming and boxing.
