In 2 weeks, Central Queensland’s biggest sporting event will commence, so why did Rockhampton bid for the 2019 Oceania Cup, featuring global hockey giants Australia and New Zealand men’s and women’s teams?
An international sporting spotlight will be shining on Rockhampton for the 5-day tournament. Especially as the Australian and New Zealand teams are all ranked in the top 8 teams in the world, the Australian men being number 1. That will certainly provide positive exposure of the region and lead to future visitation. There are the immediate economic benefits, local accommodation providers alone will get a $180K shot in the arm just from the visiting players and officials attending. Then there are the out-of-town spectators on top of this, whom will also be spending money on food, transport and entertainment. Of course what better way to show-off the new Olympic Games standard field than by hosting an Olympic Games qualifying tournament? Which will help make a stronger statement about Rockhampton’s ability to host a 2032 Olympic Games event here should Queensland’s bid be successful.
Not having to travel to see an international sporting fixture should also prove a winner with all local sports fans, especially junior hockey players. This is the most important reason why Rockhampton did bid and should continue to bid for the big events; the inspiration they can provide our youth, to see and hear that it is possible for regional Queensland kids, who want to put in the effort, to make it to the very top. Arguably, locally there is no greater testament to this than the 5 national representatives Rockhampton Hockey has produced, including 2 who have been judged by their peers as the best player in the world, former Australian Captain Mark Knowles and unprecedented 5-time International Player of the Year, Jamie Dwyer. However, with Rockhampton hosting the Oceania Cup means regional Queensland juniors don’t just have to look to the past for inspiration they’ll be seeing and meeting new hockey heroes, players who started in Mackay and even a Kiwi who was born in Maryborough. Heroes that may next year achieve Olympic gold glory. And to think the start to this possible gold medal begins here in Rockhampton 2 weeks from now.
Putting a bid together is arguably the easy bit though. Winning the bid is another matter, then if successful preparing for it. The hurdles the Rockhampton Hockey Association have had to overcome to be ready to host the Oceania Cup would test the stamina of professional sport administrators, yet the committee is comprised of volunteers. Like other volunteers, it is their passion for the sport that outsiders sit back say well done but question why. Why take the huge financial risk, why spend months of unpaid time on the planning, why spend tens of thousands on infrastructure only to have it pulled down after the event, why continually send out hundreds of sponsorship requests, why pray that it won’t rain during the tournament? It’s definitely not for the money that they do it, it’s for the future of their sport, to attract more juniors and grow. It’s the hope that in the Australian teams competing in the 2032 Olympic Games there are those that proudly say we came from Rockhampton (regional Queensland) and were inspired to become Olympians after seeing the world’s best playing in Rockhampton. Passion, it is a powerful emotion and motivator.
Hopefully hosting the Oceania Cup will also inspire other local sporting and community organisations to host state and national competitions, after all there are many good reasons to put in a bid.
If you haven’t already got your tickets to the Oceania Cup, visit www.RockhamptonTickets.com.au. See you there.