Destination NSW backs regional sporting events

Four major sporting events will be hosted in regional NSW over the next three years, as part of Destination NSW plans to increase regional visitor growth.

Initially, over the next year, regional NSW is set to host three NRL Premiership matches, while in 2022 the world’s best cyclists will head to Wollongong for the UCI Road World Championships.

Explaining the move that will see the NRL deliver t019 match-ups in Mudgee, Bathurst and Wagga Wagga, NSW Minister for Tourism Adam Marshall stated “the NSW Government is committed to ensuring every corner of NSW gets its fair share of the record tourist dollars and investment coming into our state, and major sporting events are an excellent way to drive more visitors to the regions.

“Regional NSW has the facilities required to host major sporting events and I am delighted the NSW government has partnered with the NRL to showcase the best of the NRL in regional NSW.”

The UCI Road World Championships in Wollongong in 2022 is expected to tap into growing interest in the sport both domestically and internationally.

Minister for Sport Stuart Ayres advised “the eyes of the world will be on Wollongong for eight days in 2022, with an international viewing audience of 200 million people, more than 300,000 spectators and 500 media outlets staying in the region.”

Cycling Australia began its bid preparation for the 2022 Road Worlds, spearheaded by its general Manager of Sport Kipp Kaufmann and new Chief Executive Steve Drake.

Advising how the sport sought financial backing to host the event, Drake told CyclingTips that the NSO “cast the net reasonably wide”, adding “you have to catch the right state, right government, right time. We’re very grateful to the NSW Government (for having) shown such strong interest.”