Gold Coast to host 2022 Women in Sport Summit

The City of Gold Coast has been announced as the host the annual Women in Sport Summit, acknowledging the impact female sport is having on the region.

Hosting the Ministry of Sport organised conference, to be held at the Crowne Plaza in Surfers Paradise on 8th September 2022, comes as women’s participation in sports across the city hits a record-high this season.

Welcoming the potential attendance of hundreds of sporting delegates, Gold Coast Deputy Mayor, Donna Gates advised “the Gold Coast is enjoying a strong economic resurgence, with intrastate migration levels at record highs, leading to strong participation numbers and an increasing interest in women’s sport.

“Our city has continued to attract sporting events both on a national and international level, including international competitions in BMX, gymnastics, wheelchair basketball, swimming and hockey - all now part of our sporting calendar.

“Hosting the annual Women in Sport Summit through Ministry of Sport is an extension of how far we have come as city, and a great opportunity to open up conversations around equity, participation and recognition - all important subjects as we head towards the 2032 Olympics.”

AFL, touch football and netball across the Gold Coast have all experienced major growth this year, with record numbers of female participants.

In 2020, the Gold Coast SUNS AFLW team became the first national female sporting team to represent the Gold Coast, and since then participation in the sport has continued to grow exponentially with Queensland now having the second-highest AFL female participation numbers in the country behind Victoria.

Since the SUNS’ entry into the AFLW competition, Junior Girls participation is up 41% on the Gold Coast which has seen the introduction of a new Under 9 girls competition in 2021.

SUNS AFLW Club Champion Alison Drennan said it was fantastic to see women’s sport on the Gold Coast recognised with this major event coming to the region.

Drennan stated “AFL in the women’s category is just growing exponentially which is amazing to see, so to attract the Women in Sport Summit here on the Gold Coast is going to be awesome for the city and women’s sport here.

“When I was growing up there wasn’t a lot of representation of women in sport so having someone to look up to and to chase is just amazing for young women.”

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Image: Gold Coast Deputy Mayor Donna Gates (centre) with local women's sport ambassadors. Credit: Ministry of Sport.