Oceania event tipped to net $ 1.5m

ABOUT $ 1.5 million will run into this city’s economy when it hosts a world- class event.

Townsville will host the region’s finest track and field stars at the Oceania Athletics Association Championships from June 25- 28 next year.

The championships will be one of the biggest athletics competitions held in Australia in 2019.

More than 500 athletes and 100 technical officials from the Oceania region will compete.

Townsville Enterprise CEO Patricia O’Callaghan said the funding to help bring the competition to the city came from TEL’s Townsville North Queensland Bid Fund.

“It’s anticipated that the four- day event will inject almost $ 1.5 million into the Townsville North Queensland economy, generated by the projected 1675 event attendees, of which 650 will be competing,” she said.

“The carnival gives Towns- ville the chance to showcase its outstanding sporting facilities, as well as our extensive dining, shopping and tourism experiences on offer to competitors and their family and friends.”

The championships is the highest- level permit meet in the Oceania region and will attract athletes chasing qualifying times for the 2019 IAAF World Championships in Doha, Qatar. The event has been held in Townsville twice – in 1996 and 2004.