AusLeisure

A national sports carnival that will attract thousands of junior athletes and their families is headed to Victoria after City of Ballarat secured the rights to host the School Sport Australia Games.

The multi-disciplinary event will include seven sports to be played over a week in October 2025, utilising a range of Ballarat’s premier sporting facilities.

It is expected that around 1,300 young athletes will be in action from throughout Australia, with traveling families and officials meaning more than 3,000 visitors will call Ballarat home during the event.

Advising that Ballarat had a proven track record of attracting and successfully hosting major sporting events, City of Ballarat Deputy Mayor, Peter Eddy stated “in recent years we have invested significantly into our sporting facilities, making Ballarat a leading regional centre for the hosting of sporting events.

“We look forward to welcoming thousands of visitors to our city to use our sporting facilities, but also experience everything Ballarat has to offer.

“We also expect our local accommodation and hospitality businesses to benefit greatly from Ballarat attracting such a major event.”

It is expected the event will inject almost $2 million into the Ballarat economy.

The School Sport Australia Games is a new concept that kicks off with its inaugural event to be held on the Gold Coast in July/August this year.

Explaining the reasons for Ballarat being chosen to host the 2025 summer event, School Sport Australia Executive, Phil Reeves noted “School Sport Australia is thrilled to bring the School Sport Australia Games to Ballarat, a city renowned for its sporting and tourist appeal.

“This event highlights our commitment to a new multi-sport format, revolutionising representative school sports. The inaugural games will take place in Queensland in six weeks, and we are already gearing up for an equally spectacular event in Ballarat for 2025.

“The School Sport Australia Games will offer students an unforgettable sporting and educational experience.

“This would not be possible without the substantial support from the City of Ballarat and our partners, including UniSport Australia and Struddys.”

Exact dates for the Games are yet to be confirmed.

Image shows (from left): School Sports Australia, Executive Officer, Phil Reeves; City of Ballarat Sports Acquisition Officer, Bree Sharp; City of Ballarat Deputy Mayor, Peter Eddy and School Sports Australia Board Member, Jamie Parsons. Credit: City of Ballarat.

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