Commonwealth Games assets gifted to Queensland communities

Millions of dollars’ worth of Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games assets will be gifted to Queensland sporting clubs, schools, councils and community organisations to deliver a legacy to last a lifetime.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk today announced sporting equipment and assets like boxing gloves, barbells, athletics tracks, defibrillators, Queens Baton Relay road bikes and mini-buses would be donated to communities across the state.

“The Commonwealth Games has left memories to last a lifetime for athletes, spectators and volunteers - and now we’re making sure there’s a lasting legacy for communities across Queensland,” the Premier said.

“Through our Sports Assets Legacy Program, we’re delivering more than 20,000 sports items to more than 100 high-performance sporting organisations, grassroots clubs, community groups, schools and councils throughout the state.

“As well as sports equipment, information technology assets, medical equipment and even mini-buses will be distributed and continue to be used by local community groups and organisations.

“The cost of purchasing new or second-hand equipment would be a real struggle for many of these groups, so this is a great opportunity to make a difference.”

Queensland communities will also receive GC2018 legacy benefits with departments including Queensland Health, Education Queensland and the Queensland Ambulance Service receiving equipment to bolster front-line services.

Commonwealth Games Minister Kate Jones said the program would help inspire a new wave of emerging athletes, who would be motivated by the fact their equipment was steeped in the success of Australian medal winners.

“Soon a young athlete will receive a medal on the same dais that Australian swimming great Mack Horton stood on to receive his 400m freestyle gold medal,” she said.

“The hockey nets that our brilliant Kookaburras used in their gold medal match with New Zealand will be gifted to Hockey Queensland, along with bench seating, stopwatches, corner flags and much more – a great inspiration for Queensland’s stars of the future.

“We want to make sure taxpayers get the best bang for their buck out of the Commonwealth Games and this project means nothing will be wasted.”

Ms Jones said the distribution of assets and sporting equipment was just one of the many positive legacy benefits of hosting the state’s biggest ever event.

“By gifting this equipment, we’re ultimately helping communities deliver sports programs and nurturing sporting excellence in this state for generations to come,” she said.

GOLDOC and the State Government conducted a number of processes to allocate sports equipment and other GC2018 assets, including an Expression of Interest process which began in September 2017 and targeted schools, councils, high performance and community sports organisations. For more information about the distribution of assets and sporting equipment visit www.embracing2018.com .

ENDS

Media contact: Susan McGrady 0488 996 667, or Shane Doherty 0439 624 473 (Premier's office)

                      Kerrie Kahlon (Minister Jones' office) 0410 136 837