A NEW junior sporting carnival – the Macquarie Bank National Primary Games – will explode on Tamworth’s sporting landscape in July.
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Some 1000 primary school-aged athletes will play in a carnival being organised by The Northern Inland Academy of Sport and attracting teams in 14 sports.
That was the uplifting message from the NIAS team of Jason Lincoln, Pip Benham and James Cooper yesterday as they outlined a new and exciting tournament catering for primary school-aged students.
The initial NPG will include teams playing and competing in Australian rules, athletics, basketball, football (soccer), gymnastics, golf, hockey, mountain biking, netball, rugby union sevens, tennis, touch, softball and water polo.
“We’re expecting about 1000 children,” Lincoln told The Leader.
“It’s only the first year and we are being conservative but we want to make it a wonderful experience for the young sportsmen and women.”
They not only want to promote sport to children but promote sport and Tamworth.
It is an idea Jason Lincoln has been considering for about five years.
Joining NIAS late last year at its executive officer gave him the perfect vehicle to organise and promote the NPG.
At the same time it also promotes NIAS and gives them an even higher sporting presence in the region.
NIAS currently runs 12 sport programs (including the Lone Star Program) after adding rugby union, football, AFL and basketball in recent months .
“It’s a growth time for us here as well,” Lincoln said.
“But we are starting small and trying to make sure we do this (NPG) well.
“We want it to not only grow but provide a great experience for the children.
NIAS has spoken to the Australian Olympic Committee about the NPG and received nothing but overwhelming support from that peak body. The AOC will send two Olympians to speak to the gathered sports people at a presentation dinner in TRECC on the Saturday night.
That night will also include a young and well known entertainer.
Macquarie Bank has already come on board as the major sponsor and Tamworth Regional Council has been great supporters as well,” Lincoln said.
“Kate Baker and Brian Sheedy, from Tamworth Regional Council, have been particularly helpful.”
“They have been brilliant and we’ve had support from north to the Sunshine Coast right across the eastern seaboard and down into the ACT.”
He said contact with schools and sporting bodies from the Sunshine Coast in the north, down the eastern seaboard and south to the ACT has been strong.
“It is unique,” Lincoln said.
“But it also focuses on sportsmanship with the major award being the Spirit of the Games Award.
