Dreams of the Sunshine Coast having our own
national sporting team may soon become a reality, with the Melbourne Storm
Rugby League Club confirming it is seeking a licence for a Sunshine Coast based
team to participate in the expanded National Netball League (currently known as
the ANZ Championship).
Mayor Mark Jamieson said Sunshine Coast Council
was 100% supportive of the club's expression of interest recently submitted to
Netball Australia which, if successful, would be the first professional
national sporting team for the region.
"Melbourne Storm and the University of the
Sunshine Coast are partnering as owners of the prospective team, with Sunshine
Coast Council as a key supporter," Mayor Jamieson said.
"The team would be based at the University
of the Sunshine Coast sports stadium – a national standard indoor facility – as
part of the University's High Performance Sports Strategy and ambition to be
the preferred destination for elite athletes and teams.
"If successful, our first national senior
sporting team will be a female team in a sporting code that is one of the
fastest growing in the country.
"Providing leadership in this space is
important for both Council and the University, particularly given that
two-thirds of the university's 12,500 enrolled students are female.
"Netball is the highest female
participation sport on the Sunshine Coast and has enjoyed substantial growth
over the past three years with more than 6600 members in local competitions.
"Council will work with the local, state
and national bodies to ensure pathways for our locals from grass root to elite
athletes, allowing these netballers to pursue a professional sporting career
right here on the Coast."
Mayor Jamieson said the well-regarded Melbourne
Storm Rugby League Club had already demonstrated the value of such partnerships
through its strong relationship with Sunshine Coast Council and affiliations
with the Sunshine Coast Falcons.
The Melbourne Storm National Youth Competition
and Academy is proudly based at Sunshine Coast Stadium and provides a pathway
to Storm's NRL squad and elite coaching for 16-20 year olds.
He said the opportunity to promote the Sunshine
Coast to a national audience was priceless with matches to be televised
nationally 14 times a year and featuring up to seven home games.
"Closer to home, a new national netball
team will help bring communities together, foster participation, encourage
healthier lifestyles and enable residents to gain a wealth of experiences that
would otherwise not be readily available or accessible," Mayor Jamieson
said.
"It will create a legacy for generations,
with players and spectators coming together to play, talk and share
experiences.
"We still have a way to go in pursing this
exciting opportunity being led by the Melbourne Storm and I look forward to
being advised of the outcomes of the Netball Australia EOI process."
Courtesy of My Sunshine Coast
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