Gold Coast plan to maximise sporting opportunities

Hosting the 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018) is enabling a renewed focus on sport on the Gold Coast, including infrastructure, sports development and sports planning initiatives.

In order to maximise these opportunities, the City of Gold Coast has released the 'Gold Coast Sport Plan', details six key actions to deliver strategic solutions through a coordinated approach to sport and recreation provision on the Gold Coast over the 10 years to 2023.

The introduction to the Plan, developed by the City of Gold Coast's Business GC unit explains "the future of sport and recreation on the Gold Coast Sport and recreation on the Gold Coast consists of a range of activities from the community level through to those involving elite sports people at national and international levels. Sport and recreation delivers social and health benefits to the Gold Coast by promoting social inclusion, a sense of connection, improving physical health and condition and also helping to build relationships through shared experiences and achievements.

"The city's natural and built environment encourages residents and visitors to engage in an active lifestyle forming a strong part of the culture of the Gold Coast. Sport and recreation helps to enhance city pride in the community, as well as build the national and international profile of the Gold Coast as a sport city through hosting of numerous and significant sporting events and high performance training camps.

"Already home to various sporting organisations and teams including two national sports codes and several peak sports bodies, the city's assets create opportunities to develop sport and recreation from grassroots through to elite level.

"The Gold Coast is already known as an active city and one of the best sport and recreation destinations in Australia. With a growing population and increased participation levels for sport, the challenge is to continue to build upon our existing infrastructure and community support and make strategic investment decisions to capitalise on opportunities.

"It is assumed through the plan that when referring to sport and recreation provision in the city that this relates to people of all abilities, including athletes with disabilities, community members with disabilities and national and state sporting organisations for the disabled."

The 'Gold Coast Sport Plan 2013 - 2023' can be viewed at www.businessgc.com.au/uploads/pdf/SportsPlan2013.pdf