The Gold Coast has secured another major sporting championship, with Judo Australia and Major Events Gold Coast (MEGC) signing a three-year deal to keep the Judo Australia National Championships in the city until 2025.
The sport’s premier national event is held each year in June and will be hosted at the world-class Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre in Carrara.
MEGC CEO Jan McCormick said keeping this national judo event in the city until at least 2025 is a major coup for the Gold Coast.
“This three-year deal highlights how well-regarded our venues and facilities are by event organisers across the country and overseas, looking for long-term homes for their sporting events,” said Ms McCormick.
“The Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre is a wonderful legacy venue from the 2018 Commonwealth Games and will play an important role as a host venue in the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
The state-of-the-art venue hosted the 2022 Judo Australia National Championships earlier this year, and the national body jumped at the chance to keep the event there on a more long-term basis.
“Judo Australia are excited for the opportunity to return to the Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre for another three-years and to grow our partnership with Major Events Gold Coast,” said Judo Australia CEO Emma Taylor.
“We are excited to bring our judo community together on the Gold Coast for another three years, a destination for great sport and to enjoy everything the Gold Coast has to offer. We could not think of a more fitting place to call home for the next three years than the future venue for our sport at the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
Around 1000 athletes compete in the national championships vying to be the best judoka in more than 100 weight divisions and categories.
It’s equally as exciting for spectators, and tickets to the Judo Australia National Championships will be available to the public to witness the nation’s best in action.
“Gold Coasters are being spoilt for choice with the national judo championships secured through a three-year deal,’’ said Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate. “This exciting sport appeals to all ages and adds to the ever-expanding sports and events calendar. I’m confident we will discover our future Aussie reps at the National Championships, and I applaud Judo Australia and Major Events Gold Coast for making it happen.”
The Gold Coast currently hosts around 50 mass participation sporting events a year from state and national titles to international events, with many of these held at the Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre, including the National Clubs Gymnastics Carnival, Basketball Australia’s Australian Schools Championships and the upcoming Australian Volleyball Schools Cup and Urban Sports Fest.