READY FOR THE GAMES
AS ATHLETES in the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games finalise their training, Cairns residents will be getting a lesson in traffic delays
Road closures will go into effect before, during and after the Games around the Cairns Convention Centre and the Esplanade.
It’s been months in preparation for the district police service with a final list of road closures now released.
Acting Chief Superintendent Geoff Sheldon said co-ordinating traffic during the basketball events from April 5-9 would only be a small part of the work for the cohort of Cairns police.
“Basically, it’ll be business as usual for us with a sizeable proportion officers sequestered off to co-ordinate the games at the athletes,” he said.
“Aside from that, it should be quite an event for the whole district with the entertainment at the Esplanade.
“We’re hoping everyone in the Cairns community joins us in getting into the spirit of the festivities in a safe manner.”
Opening night on Wednesday, April 4, will kick off in the city from 5.30pm at the Esplanade Live Site.
Cairns band Nightshift will lead the opening ceremony, followed by a mayoral welcome for the arriving international athletes at 6.30pm.
There will be fireworks at 7pm followed by music by upand-coming band Bullhorn playing until the livestream of the Gold Coast opening ceremony.
The Cairns Post will be operating at the live site on the Esplanade from 9.30am until 7pm each day with copies of the paper available for purchase.