Sunshine Coast to host World’s top touch footballers

The world’s best Youth and Masters’ touch footballers will descend on Sunshine Coast Stadium in September 2017 and beyond, with the highly popular Harvey Norman National Youth Championships (NYC) confirmed to be held in our region for the next four years.

The five day event, that includes the Harvey Norman National Youth Championships; the Harvey Norman School Series Cup; the Alliance Cup and Masters Trans-Tasman, will be held at the Sunshine Coast Stadium until 2020

Touch Football Australia Chief Executive, Colm Maguire, said holding the event on the Sunshine Coast was ideal for the event and its participants. The format next year particularly exciting with the four series’ held in conjunction with the one event.

“We again thank the highly valued support and contribution of the Sunshine Coast Council for their unstinting support of our major national youth championship over an enduring period,” he said on the eve of the 2016 TFA Annual General Meeting (AGM),” Mr Maguire said.

“It is such a strong validation and message to the organisation and the Touch Football community of their support and flexible approach to host the event and specifically, council’s willingness to assist us grow the event and components over time and encourage more and more international and inter/intra state visitors to the region.

“We are seeing tremendous growth in our schools’ space and nothing but positive feedback on not only the Youth Championships but also the inaugural Schools Cup and Alliance Cup which also brings a critical Open division dimension to the event mix.”

The 2017 Masters Trans-Tasman series will add another exciting International dimension with the two countries going head-to-head across the five Masters divisions. The 2017 Opens Trans-Tasman series will also be held at Sunshine Coast Stadium from May10-14.

The Sunshine Coast Council Tourism Sport and major Events Portfolio Councillor, Jason O’Pray said hosting the National Youth Touch Football Championships over the next four years would provide plenty of exciting benefits for the Sunshine Coast.

“Touch Football is booming in Australia with participation numbers and popularity growing rapidly, so it’s terrific to have this showpiece event for the sport coming here for at least the next four years, as well as the Opens Trans-Tasman Series that we’ll be hosting for the first time in May next year,” Cr O’Pray said.

“The National Youth Championships involves thousands of players, supporters and officials from all corners of Australia. And this huge influx of guests will deliver fantastic economic benefits for our local businesses and also provide great exposure that will generate future tourism interest and opportunities for our region.

“Tourism, Sport and Leisure is one of seven high value industries on the Sunshine Coast and in 2016 we’ve played host to more than 60 major sporting, music and lifestyle events that have brought an estimated 150,000 guests from all over the world.

“So we’re accustomed to hosting major events and providing a warm welcome for our guests; it’s great that we’re keeping the ball rolling in 2017, which also marks the 50th anniversary of the naming of the Sunshine Coast, by securing more major events like the National Youth Touch Championships.

“I’m certain players, officials and supporters will have a tremendous time on the Sunshine Coast next year and beyond and will relish the wonderful facilities at Sunshine Coast Stadium, that will soon be boosted even further by a $2.5 million upgrade that includes a 36 square meter LED scoreboard and replay screen.”

Best Western Plus Lake Kawana Hotel General Manager John Orning said having major events come to the Sunshine Coast provided a welcome boost for business.

“The busier the Sunshine Coast is the better for all businesses and we’ve seen some great bumps in accommodation bookings at Best Western Kawana as a result of big events like the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in September,” he said.

“We opened our doors in November 2015 so having major events like this come to our region and being able to accommodate guests from other parts of Australia and overseas is great for getting our business recognised on the Sunshine Coast as well as nationally and internationally.”

For more information on the 2017 Harvey Norman Youth Championships and Masters Trans-Tasman Test series, visit www.touchfootball.com.au and tourism information on the Sunshine Coast go to www.visitsunshinecoast.com