Community invited to join Qld sporting heroes for ‘Olympic Day’ at Sleeman

Members of the public are invited to attend an ‘Olympic Day’ party at the Sleeman Sports Complex in Chandler tomorrow (Friday June 20), to celebrate the achievements of Queensland athletes who are on their way to the Beijing Olympic Games.

Minister for Sport Judy Spence is encouraging locals to come out and support Queensland’s Olympic heroes, many of whom train at the complex on Brisbane’s southside.

Ms Spence said: “This special event will give everyone in the local community the chance to show their support for the athletes who share the facilities at Sleeman with them.

“People will also have the chance to meet other Queensland athletes who are coming from around the state, to take part in this ‘Olympic Day’ celebration here in Brisbane.

“Over 100 of the state’s athletes have already been either officially selected or are aiming for selection in the 2008 Olympic Team.

“Many of these athletes use our first-class facilities at the Sleeman Sports Complex all year round to train and prepare for national and international competition.

“This public event will provide the community with a chance to get up close and personal with those athletes, and give them a special send-off ahead of the biggest international sporting event of all – the Olympics,” Ms Spence said.

Member for Chatsworth and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Sport, Chris Bombolas said he is looking forward to personally congratulating the athletes who train in his electorate.

“Our Queensland athletes put in long hours at training, make huge personal sacrifices and spend time away from their friends, family and loved ones to prepare for the games,” Mr Bombolas said.

“These talented individuals are an inspiration to us all and I know the members of my local community will be eager to meet their sporting heroes, before they head to Beijing to represent our country.”

Ms Spence said the Queensland Government is a strong supporter of all the state’s athletes preparing to compete in Beijing.

“The Queensland Government has allocated half-a-million dollars over the last two years in the lead up to the final selection of the Australian Olympic team, for our athletes preparing for the Olympic selection trials.

“We have also made the most significant State Government contribution to the Australian Olympic Committee's fundraising efforts, with $900,000 dollars provided over the last three summer Olympic Games cycles.

“We provided $250,000 for Sydney, $300,000 for Athens, and have now increased this figure to $350,000 for Beijing.

“We continue to provide our athletes with world-class training and competition facilities, at venues such as the Sleeman Sports Complex, the Queensland Academy of Sport and the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre at Nathan.

“By providing our elite sportsmen and women with the support they need we are ensuring they have the best chance possible of reaching their dreams of Olympic glory,” Ms Spence said.

The Sleeman Sports Complex features a gymnastic hall, cycling velodrome, indoor sports hall enabling basketball, volleyball, netball, indoor soccer and badminton, a Theatre and is also home to the Brisbane Aquatic Centre.

The Aquatic Centre has hosted some of Australia’s greatest aquatic events including the Commonwealth Games, 2001 Goodwill Games, World Masters Championships and National Championships.

In the last twelve months the Sleeman Sports Complex has been visited more than six-hundred and sixty thousand times by athletes and members of the local community.

Please note: Doors open to the public at 9am.

Media contact: 3239 6172