Some of the state’s finest young athletes will arrive in the Hunter Region this weekend for the 2021 Your Local Club Academy Games.
Hosted by the Hunter Academy of Sport (HAS), the event will be held across various venues throughout the Hunter region from Friday, April 16th to Sunday, April 18th. The event will run for it’s third and final time in the Hunter Region, previously being held in 2018, 2019 and now 2021 (2020 was cancelled due to COVID-19).
The Games will be bringing together athletes, staff, families and supporters from all 11 Regional Academies of Sport (RAS) across New South Wales. The competing Academies include Central Coast, Far West, Illawarra, Hunter, North Coast, Northern Inland, South East, South West Sydney, Southern, Western Region and Western Sydney Academies of Sport. The Games will also highlight guest Academies, including teams from Sydney and the ACT.
The Games features the emerging talent of 1300 athletes across 6 sports including Basketball, Golf, Hockey, Netball, Triathlon and Aussie Rules.
In 2019, the Games saw over 4000 athletes, supporters, staff, volunteers and coaches attend the event, with a total economic tourism value of $1.16 million.
Chief Executive Officer of the Hunter Academy of Sport Brett O’Farrell said that the Hunter Region was very excited to be given this opportunity to host the Academy Games again.
“We look forward to building on and improving what was a successful year for the Regional Academies of Sport not just locally, but throughout the state.”
“The Games are a fantastic opportunity to showcase the Hunter region, and of course the pure talent that these athletes have to offer,” he said.
Chairman of ClubsNSW, Dr. George Peponis OAM; MBBS commented on the above, “This event has brought thousands of talented young athletes and their families to the region, and local businesses — including registered clubs — have greatly benefited from the influx of visitors and boost in trade.”
The 2021 Your Local Club Academy Games is proudly supported by Your local club, the NSW Government, Newcastle City Council, Lake Macquarie City Council, NBN News, Regional Academies of Sport and the Hunter Academy of Sport.
For more information on the Games, please visit www.academygames.com.au