Upwards of 500 competitors and thousands more spectators will converge on North Wollongong Beach from this Thursday when the city plays host to Australia’s second official Beach Netball event.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
About 100 teams from around Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia are taking part in the Wollongong event from October 14-16.
The three-day “festival of fun’’ is ideal for all abilities and includes group fitness workouts, a celebrity match, food, music and the Official Beach Netball Party.
All this is music to the ears for Destination Wollongong general manager Mark Sleigh, who was “ecstatic’’ Wollongong will host the event for the next three years.
“Competitors and their visitors will contribute around $450,000 but the perception changing opportunities for Wollongong, showcasing our stunning blue mile to event visitors far outweighs the immediate economic benefits,’’ Mr Sleigh said.
“A significant part of the major event strategy is changing perceptions of Wollongong. An event such as this will do that.
“It brings people to town to experience everything on offer and hopefully they will come back at another time.
“In this day and age the role social media plays is very important.
“To have people down there [beach] tagging Wollongong and sharing photos with their friends is invaluable as far as changing perceptions of Wollongong as a brand go.’’
Beach Netball is the brainchild of NETFIT Netball founder and former Melbourne Vixens and NSW Swifts player, Sarah Wall.
Ten netball courts, a DJ booth and a designated party area will highlight Wollongong’s netball tournament with a difference.
Much attention is on the celebrity match on Saturday which features former and current sporting personalities Wendell Sailor, Anthony Stevens, Trent Copeland, Kim Green, Taylah Davies and Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery.
