Roundtable’s on the ball Heads meet to talk Pacific sporting links
FIFTEEN representatives of Far North sport showed Queensland senator Nita Green just how seriously they take a broadened sporting relationship with Pacific nations and Papua New Guinea.
The sporting diplomacy roundtable at the Cairns District Rugby League headquarters yesterday was an opportunity for stakeholders to push the importance of a new rectangular stadium and discuss plans for promoting women’s sport as part of any future international events.
“I was really impressed with the calibre of people who attended,” said Ms Green.
“It means they take the issue seriously and see the benefit of delivering sporting links to the region.
“We don’t want people to fly over Cairns from the Pacific on their way to Brisbane, we want them to stay here, possibly move here. It is 100 per cent my job to go back to Canberra and raise this.”
Northern Pride chairman Tony Williamson said the meeting was a “great start”.
“We need to build relationships with all our Pacific neighbours. The fact we have an international airport but have substandard sporting facilities is a problem,” he said.
“We need a rectangular stadium – think if we could host teams ahead of the 2020 Olympics. The rugby 7s play all over the world and they’d love to come to Cairns, but there’s no facility for them.
“This isn’t just a Northern Pride agenda, a stadium could change everything for Cairns.”
PNG netball coach Richanda-Leigh Kassman said the meeting “was only just scratching the surface”.
WE DON’T WANT PEOPLE TO FLY OVER CAIRNS FROM THE PACIFIC ON THEIR WAY TO BRISBANE SENATOR NITA GREEN
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