HOPS TO IT
Beer giant backs Coast Games, now like Brisbane ‘82, give us our own special brew
THE first ‘cheers’ of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games will go up today when XXXX is confirmed as one of the event’s major sponsors.
The deal mirrors the 1982 Brisbane Games, when XXXX produced a special limited edition brew rated as one of their best ever.
Brewery bosses will not announce plans for a similar one-off thirst-quencher when they toast their deal with Games organiser GOLDOC today.
But the Gold Coast Bulletin is calling on XXXX to think again and give us our own ‘Glitter Sip’.
GIANT alcohol brand XXXX will today to be announced as the Commonwealth Games official brewer – and the timing is perfect to create a special Gold Coast limited edition beer.
The Bulletin understands executives from parent company Lion will be on the Glitter Strip to meet with staff of Games organiser GOLDOC to lock in sponsorship plans for Australia’s biggest sporting event in April next year.
The Gold Coast Bulletin is pushing for the new sponsors to expand on its State of Origin campaign, by not just creating a new can but a brew to go with it.
Twelve football clubs across the state appeared on more than 45 million limited edition cans and bottles of Gold, Bitter
and Gold Australian Pale Ale where Origin legends had first played their football.
Lion released the special edition beers as part of their 27-year partnership with the QRL and XXXX Maroons.
Thirty-six years after XXXX released its memorable Brisbane Commonwealth Games
beer, the staging of next year’s event on the tourist strip begs for another signature beer.
Bulletin editor Scott Thompson, on the eve of today’s announcement, said: “I was in Brisbane in 1982. I was 15 and under drinking age. But I was told that Games beer packed a punch.
“We on the Gold Coast certainly deserve a drop of the same ilk.”
Respected Coast tourism identity Peter Doggett, who heads up Connecting Southern Gold Coast, supports the Games owning a strong memorabilia portfolio and has donated historic sports items to GOLDOC’s growing collection.
“I gave them a bronze medal in 1982 from the Brisbane Games. We had a Gold Coast liaison group back in those days. We were raising money for them,” Mr Doggett said.
“I brought back a blue baton from the Melbourne Commonwealth Games. It was a symbolic one. I think it’s a great idea (for a special edition beer).
“People look back with fond memories. It takes them back to the event. You can see how all the merchandising has changed.”
Coolangatta memorabilia expert Simon Koschel, the owner of 20th Century Antiques and Collectables, believed a limited edition Games beer as a collector’s item would work if the cans showed illustrations of different areas of the Coast along with the sports.
“There’s a lot of people who buy Gold Coast mementos. We get everyone here, from eight years told to 80,” Mr Koschel said.
Games beer can collector Kim Holdom, who as a lifesaver marched at the 1982 Brisbane event, said holding a stubbie or can from the event brought back the memories.
“One of the cans, I have in my hand now. I can’t believe it was 1982, it was 35 years ago. It was great fun,” he said.