Games might not

THE resurrection of the Arafura Games was an election commitment made early by the now Gunner Government when it was an Opposition only a few months old in 2013.

The CLP government, under the stewardship of then chief minister and now re-elected Blain MLA Terry Mills, decided to dump the games for a number of reasons, including budget repair and because there was a belief they had had their day.

The Government would do well to think through how, and even if, it does resurrect them.

The initial Arafura Games were held in 1991 and on their eve were criticised with predictions, by a Sunday Territorian columnist no less, they would end up a flop due to poor marketing and planning.

The reality was far different and those who turned up to Gardens Oval for the opening ceremony left buzzing.

It was a fantastic event kicked off by a spectacular opening ceremony followed by a sporting snapshot of our lifestyle – swimming, riding and running – triathlon, the official first event on the Sunday morning. Sporting bliss.

Sadly as the years wore on the sporting competition which followed didn’t match the quality of the opening ceremony.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner and his team are clearly committed to resurrecting the Arafura Games. Committed enough to appoint newbieSanderson MLA Kate Worden as an assistant minister with the title, Bringing Back the Arafura Games, and active enough to stick her on a plane to Sabah to talk it up within hours of a Cabinet being sworn in.

Her job, along with the authority of the Chief Minister and the Tourism and Culture Minister Lauren Moss – note the word “sport” doesn’t appear in any ministry title – will be to shape a new version of the games.

And what would a new version of the Arafura Games possibly look like? And at what expense to the taxpayer will we see the Gunner Government deliver on its election promise?

To look forward we have to look back.

One of the great problems about the failing standard of competition was some sports had to be dragged kicking and screaming to be part of the games. I am aware of sports being told of their funding being linked to participation in the games and being told they will do this and that by games organisers or else.

Hardly democratic and if anyone has been involved in sport as a competitor, administrator or coach they will understand the human resource pressure which exists, and no amount of money can fix it. Bullying sports can’t be part of the next games.

The flow-on is that competitions were hastily put together and standards were never reached. The language around that period changed from sport to a cultural event, designed to lower public expectations.

In some sports, low public expectations were easily achieved.

Don’t get me wrong, over the 20-year history some sports blossomed and turned the Arafura Games into something special. Triathlon, I’ve already mentioned, and I will declare a conflict having competed and been a race organ- iser. Others like shooting and table tennis found their space. Shooting made the event an Olympic qualifier and we got to see Olympic gold medallists in action – sensational.

Boxing was always popular and the introduction of Muay Thai – Thai kickboxing – complete with a traditional band drew big crowds. Sepak takraw – kick volleyball – a sport native to Southeast Asia and the target audience of any rejuvenation of the games, remained popular from its debut at the inaugural 1991 games despite it being more exhibition.

Athletics was another to grow. It really reached its best in 2011, not with able-bodied athletes, but impaired athletes. It made the games a qualifying event for London and new interest from the public and media took hold.

One of the great disappoints of the games, through no fault of its own, was swimming. It simply did not have a venue to hang its hat on to attract world-class athletes, which through the late 1990s and early 2000s were capturing the nation’s attention in swimming’s golden age.

Which brings us to what the future may look like and at what cost.

Taxpayers shouldn’t expect any change out of $20 million. We are starting from scratch again. The marketing of the event will consume a large chunk but the logistics required for essentially volunteer-driven sports will require money – serious money.

One of the earliest decisions has to be what the word “sport” is supposed to mean. Is it “sport” in the context of train specifically for the event? Or is it “sport” go there, have a break and maybe compete in something with a number?

Personally I want the former. Why? ’Cause we just don’t get to see enough of it. NRL or AFL games aren’t enough once or twice a year and there are a multitude of sports like swimming, cycling, athletics where we just don’t see national quality athletes.

If it is the latter, we already have an event like the Masters Games, which will be held in Alice Springs next month.

Sport selection is the next challenge.

In a revamped Arafura Games, which the Gunner Government has said will return in two years, swimming has to be the centrepiece. We will have a new $14 million aquatic facility to FINA stan-

“If you want motivation then sit and watch an impaired athlete compete and then their reaction to losing”