Gymnastics NSW launches the 2012 NSW Country Championships in Orange Country
Wednesday, November 23, 2011 was indeed a milestone in the short history of Sir Neville Howse Stadium in Orange Country. The relatively new facility witnessed the launch of its first mega event, the 2012 NSW Country Championships.
Since its inception in July 2009, Sir Neville Howse Stadium has extended its services to the NSW State Cup volleyball series, Central West State League netball finals and the Western Junior League basketball rounds.
While all the events were prestigious, they all cower in terms of scale when compared to the 2012 NSW Country Championships.
This event will have over a 1000 gymnasts competing, and a further 300 to 400 gymnastics officials who will be attending the event.
The NSW Country Championships is scheduled for the next year and will span a period of four days, July 12 to July 15. This will be the first time that the Championships will be held in Central West.
“It is a way to say thank you to our regional communities, who consistently show great dedication to the sport despite often having to travel long distances to get to events,” Nicholas Carroll, the Marketing and Events Manager at Gymnastics NSW, said.
More reassuring for the Orange Country is that hosting rights traditionally last for a period of three years.
“Gymnastics is one of the fastest growing sports in Orange. We look forward to having gymnasts and their families from all across the state here in Orange next year,” John Davis, Orange City Council Mayor, said.
In his speech at the launch he elaborated on how excited he was at the opportunity on behalf of the entire community.
He also went on to recognise this as a standing proof that the multi-sport facility is exactly that, and gives Sir Neville Howse Stadium a chance to display its wide range of utilities to the sports community.
The Gymnastics NSW staff travelled to the venue for the launch along with rhythmic champion and RG Sports Program Manager, Naazmi Johnston. Prashanth Sellathurai, NSW’s Pommel World Champion, also accompanied them.
The launch was attended by members of the Central West Gymnastics, and students of the Bowen Public School and St. Mary’s Primary School. At the ceremony they got a chance to observe performances by the two Australian athletes firsthand.
The three-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Naazmi, shared her experiences as a gymnast and elicited delighted cheers from the audience through her demonstrations on the apparatus.
Prashanth engaged the audience by inviting young male gymnasts from the audience to join him on the floor as he walked in a handstand position.
The launch closed with autograph signings and pictures of the athletes with the excited students.
Hopefully, the NSW 2012 Country Championships will be as entertaining as the launch ceremony itself.
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