GC2018 basketball scores new presenting partner

Minister for the Commonwealth Games Stirling Hinchliffe today welcomed TAFE Queensland to the team as an official presenting partner for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018) basketball competition in Cairns and Townsville.   

Mr Hinchliffe shot some hoops with players from the Cairns Taipans basketball team to celebrate the partnership with TAFE Queensland and mark the 721 day countdown until the Games officially start.

“With less than two years to go until the Commonwealth Games come to Cairns, preparations for the basketball competition in Cairns are on track to be held at the Convention Centre,” Mr Hinchliffe said.

“As host of Commonwealth Games basketball heats, Cairns will be front and centre when the action starts in April 2018 and I know basketball fans around the state are counting down the 721 days until the competition begins.

“It’s been ten years since basketball debuted as a Commonwealth Games sport at the 2006 Melbourne Games and it’s fantastic it will be back in Cairns and Townsville for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

“Australia has a great record of performing well in the Commonwealth Games basketball competition and I’m confident our team will go for gold in 2018.

“The Boomers scored their first ever major tournament gold medal at the 2006 Melbourne Games and I know all of Australia will be cheering the team on to win in 2018.”

Cairns Basketball President and Taipans CEO Mark Beecroft said the heats will be fantastic promotion for the regional NBL team and the overall growth of basketball in Queensland.

“I’m thrilled that Cairns has been recognised as a world-class sporting location and will be hosting preliminary basketball matches for the Games at the Cairns Convention Centre,” said Mr Beecroft.

“As the only national sports team in the region, the Cairns Taipans have a proven track record of hosting major events on their home court and have a very loyal fan base that love their basketball.

“This is an opportunity to showcase what the club has been able to achieve and demonstrate what basketball means to this community on an international scale.”  

Mr Hinchliffe said the visit to Cairns was a great opportunity to congratulate TAFE Queensland on furthering their commitment to help deliver a great Games event in 2018.

“The basketball preliminary matches will be contested in Cairns and Townsville and I’m very confident that the training provided by TAFE Queensland means the regional volunteers at both venues will be capable, enthusiastic and ready to welcome visitors and athletes from all over the world,” Mr Hinchliffe said.

TAFE Queensland North General Manager Joann Pyne said TAFE was proud to be coming onboard as an official presenting partner for the basketball competition at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games and would also be helping to train more than 15,000 volunteers.

“We are committed to inspiring growth, and building capability and transferable skills that will last a lifetime for GC2018 volunteers in Cairns and across all GC2018 venues,” Ms Pyne said.

The Cairns Convention Centre and the Townsville Convention and Exhibition Centre will each host five days of preliminary round basketball, with the finals being played at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games will be staged from 4-15 April 2018.

For information on GC2018 visit gc2018.com

For information on the Embracing 2018 program visit embracing2018.com

Media contact: Jessica Hill 0475 950 772 (Hinchliffe)