The Australian Masters Games has announced that Festival Plaza will be the official Games Village Venue, and SkyCity as its official naming rights sponsor for the 2023 multisport festival, with seven months to go until the highly-anticipated biannual sporting event returns to its spiritual home.
Held in Adelaide for the eighth time since the Games’ inception, the event is set to welcome more than 10,000 competitors from across Australia and around the world from 7 – 14 October, for a week-long festival of sport and entertainment across South Australia.
To mark the signing of the Agreement for the Village’s city location, an official announcement will be made to dignitaries, sponsors, athlete representatives and special guests at the Riverbank Precinct, where competitors and supporters will flock to eat, drink and celebrate for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, mid-week concerts and nightly entertainment.
The event also featured a Q&A with former Socceroos captain and Football Federation of Australia Hall of Famer Aurelio Vidmar, who has just returned from coaching in Thailand to live in Adelaide, and three-time Olympian and World Champion Opals player Rachael Sporn.
Australian Masters Games General Manager, Jane Woodlands-Thompson, said excitement was building for
what would be one of the largest Games ever to be held in Adelaide.
“We are delivering more than 50 sports across the Australian Masters Games, which means there will be something for everyone – fit, fast or just wanting some fun,” Ms Woodlands-Thompson said.
“All the favourites will feature such as dragon boat, netball, basketball and athletics; but we’re also excited to announce some great new additions to the Games program such as fin swimming, yoga sports and pickleball. We can’t wait to welcome the thousands of competitors, their families and their friends when they come to Adelaide in October. We live in a vibrant city and we love our sport, and can’t wait to put on a show to remember.”
Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith was looking forward to the Games coming to Adelaide.
“Adelaide is one of the world’s great sporting cities, and our tourism operators, retailers, restaurants, bars, hotels, motels and caravan parks will no doubt benefit from having so many people coming to compete,” Dr Lomax-Smith said.
“More than 100 local businesses will be directly involved in delivering this year’s Australian Masters Games, and many more are set to receive indirect benefits, so we’re expecting a significant boost to the local economy. With more than 10,000 competitors expected, and many scheduled to travel from interstate and overseas, it will be a great opportunity for tourism operators to showcase the best that Adelaide and South Australia have to offer.”
Mr Vidmar said he was thrilled to have returned to his hometown and was looking forward to being involved in the Australian Masters Games.
“It’s fantastic to be back in Adelaide among family, friends and my old teammates, and I’m hoping they’ll all dust off their boots and come and compete in October,” he said.
Ms Sporn, who is active in the basketball community, has also jumped aboard.
“We’re looking forward to joining in on the fun and celebrations at this year’s Australian Masters Games, in our home city. We see this year’s event as a week-long celebration of our heritage and history,” she said.
The Games are set to attract hundreds of overseas competitors, thanks to the signing last week of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Asia Pacific Masters Games. The MOU brings both countries together to promote the sporting endeavours of the community, no matter how old, how fit or how fast.
The official opening ceremony for the 2023 Australian Masters Games will take place on 7 October, 2023 at the Riverbank Precinct, promising to be a spectacular event. The SkyCity Village will host participant logistics, accommodate several bars and food options, daily events including concerts and social activities.
The Australian Masters Games encourages participants to get active, social and adventurous and immerse themselves beyond the sports fields to the vibrant city laneway bars and eateries and tourism hot spots. The State Government, through the South Australian Tourism Commission, is proud to be hosting the Australian Masters Games for the first time since 2019.
About the 2023 Australian Masters Games:
When: Saturday 7 October – Saturday 14 October 2023
Where: Adelaide, South Australia
Who: Approximately 10,000 competitors and supporters. Competitors don’t have to meet qualification standards, just the minimum age requirement, which in most sports is 30. What: The Australian Masters Games is a week-long festival of sport that brings together the 30 and overs community to enjoy an extensive sporting and social program in an exciting holiday destination. The Games will feature around 50 sports, ranging from basketball to dragon boat to lawn bowls and tennis.
Website: www.AustralianMastersGames.com