Friday June 12, 2015

Media Release

Brisbane win bid to host 2019 Inas Global Games

Brisbane, Australia has been announced as the host city for the 2019 Inas Global Games.

The Games – a week long championship featuring nine sports (Athletics, Basketball, Cycling, Futsal, Swimming, Tennis, Table Tennis, Rowing and Taekwondo) – will attract more than 1000 of the world’s elite athletes with an intellectual disability.   The opening ceremony will take place on 19th October 2019.

Inas – the International Federation for sport for para-athletes with an intellectual disability has awarded the 5th Inas Global Games (2019) to Brisbane following a successful bidding process by Ausrapid.

Inas President Amaury Russo said of the bid “Brisbane Global Games 2019 aligns totally with the Inas Global Vision that athletes with an intellectual disability across the World have the opportunity to achieve excellence in sport and high-level competition.  The package planned by the local organising committee provides a great opportunity to create a long-term legacy by delivering an event that will have a positive social impact and reinforce the benefits of inclusive sport”

Ausrapid is the Inas member organisation responsible for the delivery of the Games.  Chief Executive, Robyn Smith was delighted to win the bid process “The Brisbane Global Games 2019 vision is to deliver a uniquely memorable and exciting celebration of sport and culture which focuses on ability. The event will create an atmosphere that inspires achievement, harmony and a sense of unity consistent with the Games vision.”

Greg Dunk, General Manager- Strategy and Corporate Affairs Life Stream Australia and member of the Games Bid Team stated “Brisbane is a beautiful city and boasts some of the best sporting facilities in the world, all within close proximity to the competition and training venues.  The Games will be a life-changing event for all athletes, officials, volunteers and spectators, and for communities across the Brisbane Region, Queensland and Australia.  It will bring people together in a secure, fun and friendly environment for a whole-of-Games experience and deliver a world-class sporting competition.”

The 2019 Inas Global Games program of events will be held across a number of internationally certified sporting venues such as the Chandler Velodrome, Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Chandler Swimming Complex, QE11 Stadium and QSAC.

Taking place just a year ahead of the Paralympic Games in 2020, it will be a fantastic opportunity for athletes aiming for qualification in Tokyo.

The early announcement by Inas will enable Brisbane GG organisers to both promote to and learn from the 4^th Inas Global Games being held in Ecuador commencing in 100 days time.   Australia will participate in 4 sports in Ecuador: Athletics, Basketball (Men and Women), Swimming and Tennis.

It will be the first time as a region Oceania has hosted the Games and provides a real opportunity for engagement within the region to develop sport for athletes with an intellectual disability.

Ausrapid works in partnership with national and international sporting bodies and key peak agencies on a day to day basis to facilitate inclusiveness in sport for people with an intellectual disability.   Ausrapid will work in partnership with National Sporting organisations to deliver the best Global Games ever.