Booking pays off for coast canoeist

SUNSHINE Coast outrigger canoeist Chris Ballert only needed to roll out of bed this weekend to find herself smack bang in the middle of the Pan Pacific Masters Games action.

That is because of some canny foresight two years ago when she booked a waterfront cabin at the Broadwater Tourist Park, knowing the outrigger competition would be taking place just metres from her cabin’s water view veranda.

And although she was forced to postpone original bookings as Covid wreaked havoc in 2020 and 2021, it was all-systems go on the weekend as Ballert jumped in with over 700 fellow paddlers to take part in what was far and away the biggest outrigger regatta ever held on the Southport Broadwater.

More than 13,000 participants across 42 sports have locked themselves in for the Gold Coast for the Games’ 10 days of competition, after coronavirus disruptions in 2020 and 2021 ensured the showcase had not gone ahead since 2018.

Events Management Queensland CEO Cam Hart said the 2022 Games already boasted some impressive numbers.

“On top of the entrant numbers, the 42 sports are operating out of over 40 venues with the assistance of over 500 volunteers in registration, sport administration, technical support, timekeeping, athlete information and in medical areas,” Hart said.

“Our participants range in age from 18-95 and we expect a $20m economic impact to the city.

“And with so many visitors from outside the Gold Coast, every one of our volunteers, as they’ve done so ably in the past, becomes an ambassador for the city and one of its premier major events.”