THE second year of the NIAS National Primary Games has been hailed a success by convener James Cooper after more than 1500 athletes and 300 coaches and managers hit Tamworth over the weekend for a festival of sporting action.
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10 sports were played across six venues around town, as the two day multi-sport carnival continues to attract more and more attention following a successful first year last year followed by an even bigger event this time around.
“There were no hiccups at all – everything went really well,” Cooper said.
The NIAS director is also pleased he has a 12-month turnaround until the next Games, after the first carnival was held in July last year, leaving only nine months to prepare for last weekend.
“With 12 months to plan the next one we want to keep doing what we are doing,” Cooper said.
“There is plenty of room for more growth but we want it to be controlled growth.”
“We could still comfortably double the numbers and, with the great Tamworth fields and facilities, we could never hit capacity.”
Visiting members from NIAS’s academy partners Newington where also seemingly impressed, as were many other visiting teams, parents and program managers.
“The St Pius teams have told us that not only will they be back but they have heard Waverley College will also be here next year after St Pius spread the word,” Cooper said.
“We have had a lot of positive feedback already.”
While Cooper wants to keep a lid on the growth over the next few years, there is also the idea of expanding age groups in some sports such as football after an extra hockey division added a 45 per cent growth this year.
Another positive was the fact that all teams and competitions embraced the culture of the Games, clearly evident at the athletes’ dinner on Saturday evening, as well as the coaches and managers’ function following that.
Three Australian Olympic bronze medallists were also on hand for the games, with kayaking teammates Lyndsie Fogarty, Hannah Davis and Chantal Meek making their way around the grounds as well as speaking at the dinner.
“The function was great, with the Olympians mingling with the kids and getting photos,” Cooper said.
“The best thing was the athletes from different sports and teams interacting with each other.”
“They weren’t a member of a team, they were a part of the multi-sport festival and that is what we were after.”
“There was a great atmosphere all weekend and really good rivalries on the field.”
