1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:02,440 Speaker 1: Now we know that Darwin is set to welcome some 2 00:00:02,640 --> 00:00:05,280 Speaker 1: of the region's best track and field athletes when the 3 00:00:05,280 --> 00:00:09,520 Speaker 1: Oceana Athletics Championships arrive in the Top End from May 4 00:00:09,680 --> 00:00:13,520 Speaker 1: eighteen to twenty three later this year. The six day 5 00:00:13,520 --> 00:00:17,880 Speaker 1: event is going to bring together senior, Junior, Apara and 6 00:00:18,440 --> 00:00:22,319 Speaker 1: Masters athletes from across the Oceania region and it does 7 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:26,760 Speaker 1: play a key role in qualifying athletes for major international 8 00:00:26,800 --> 00:00:32,040 Speaker 1: competitions including the Commonwealth Games and the World Athletics Championships. 9 00:00:32,440 --> 00:00:34,760 Speaker 1: Now joining me on the line to tell us a 10 00:00:34,800 --> 00:00:38,360 Speaker 1: little bit more about it is Yvonne Mullen's the executive 11 00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:41,480 Speaker 1: director of Oceana Athletics Association. 12 00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:44,680 Speaker 2: Good morning Yvonne, Good morning Katie. 13 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:47,479 Speaker 1: Lovely to have you on the show. Now tell me 14 00:00:47,920 --> 00:00:51,000 Speaker 1: how significant is it for Darwin to host the Oceana 15 00:00:51,040 --> 00:00:52,959 Speaker 1: Athletics Championships this year. 16 00:00:53,720 --> 00:00:56,720 Speaker 2: First time it's been in Darwin. So it's an incredible 17 00:00:56,760 --> 00:00:59,360 Speaker 2: opportunity for Darwin to come along and see some of 18 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:02,560 Speaker 2: not just the region's best athletes, but of course Australia's 19 00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:05,880 Speaker 2: and the Ocean area are now have some of the 20 00:01:05,880 --> 00:01:09,360 Speaker 2: world's best athletes competing, so it's an incredible opportunity and 21 00:01:09,440 --> 00:01:13,080 Speaker 2: for athletes to come to a venue like Darwin that's 22 00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:16,160 Speaker 2: not been on there, not been on the competition schedule 23 00:01:16,200 --> 00:01:18,760 Speaker 2: for a long time, so we're really excited to be here. 24 00:01:18,959 --> 00:01:22,279 Speaker 2: It's significant. It's a world ranking event, as you said, 25 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:25,240 Speaker 2: and it's an opportunity for athletes to get ranking points 26 00:01:25,280 --> 00:01:28,920 Speaker 2: to go to the World Championships, the World Under twenty Championships, 27 00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:30,920 Speaker 2: and of course this is in the window for the 28 00:01:31,040 --> 00:01:32,240 Speaker 2: La Olympics as well. 29 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:34,680 Speaker 1: It sounds like it's going to be awesome, Yvon. Do 30 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:36,760 Speaker 1: you think we're going, like, are we going to see 31 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:39,560 Speaker 1: some of the big names here in May? I know 32 00:01:39,680 --> 00:01:41,679 Speaker 1: you can't reveal who's coming, but do you reckon? 33 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:45,240 Speaker 2: We will look, you know for Australia and New Zealand, 34 00:01:45,240 --> 00:01:48,800 Speaker 2: they'll have their selections for this at the Australian Championships 35 00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:50,960 Speaker 2: and the New Zealand Championships which are being held at 36 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:54,040 Speaker 2: the in March and April. So we expect to see, yes, 37 00:01:54,120 --> 00:01:57,120 Speaker 2: some of these athletes come here. It's a great opportunity 38 00:01:57,160 --> 00:01:59,400 Speaker 2: for them to get ready for the Commonwealth Games as well, 39 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:01,160 Speaker 2: so we expect that there will be a number of 40 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:04,360 Speaker 2: the athletes who aren't going over to do the Europeans 41 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:07,720 Speaker 2: season early to be here in Darwin, and we're hoping 42 00:02:07,720 --> 00:02:10,600 Speaker 2: they'll all be here. Of course, it's an incredible opportunity. 43 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:13,680 Speaker 1: It'll be fantastic. I think it's such a great opportunity 44 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:16,040 Speaker 1: as well for people living in the Northern Territory to 45 00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:19,200 Speaker 1: really see athletics in all its glory. 46 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:24,040 Speaker 2: Well, it's an opportunity to see pathway athletes, younger athletes 47 00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:26,800 Speaker 2: who are coming through from the under sixteen right through 48 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:29,040 Speaker 2: to the masters athletes at the other end of the 49 00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:32,000 Speaker 2: scale so we speak. But it also is an opportunity 50 00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:35,359 Speaker 2: to see the Oceania region's power Olympics. And we're going 51 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:38,760 Speaker 2: to have a program up here where we're classifying athletes beforehand. 52 00:02:39,520 --> 00:02:41,800 Speaker 2: The GAPS program that we run is going to be 53 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:43,720 Speaker 2: held up here. We're also going to have a lot 54 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:47,080 Speaker 2: of activities around it with coaches and with technical officials 55 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:50,560 Speaker 2: all being upskilled and all getting opportunities to be part 56 00:02:50,600 --> 00:02:53,519 Speaker 2: of what we think will be just incredible. 57 00:02:53,880 --> 00:02:57,480 Speaker 1: And any idea how many athletes as well as you know, 58 00:02:57,600 --> 00:03:01,880 Speaker 1: support staff, coaches, etc. May bring to the Northern Territory 59 00:03:01,919 --> 00:03:03,799 Speaker 1: this carnival, Well. 60 00:03:03,680 --> 00:03:05,799 Speaker 2: I think I can say now that we've booked out 61 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:08,960 Speaker 2: all of the airport hotels, so I think where if 62 00:03:08,960 --> 00:03:11,160 Speaker 2: there's any beds left there, they'd want people that want 63 00:03:11,200 --> 00:03:13,720 Speaker 2: to get in quickly. But we expect over a thousand athletes. 64 00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:17,320 Speaker 2: We expect to have over one hundred and fifty technical 65 00:03:17,320 --> 00:03:20,519 Speaker 2: officials and volunteers, and then of course the support groups 66 00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:23,679 Speaker 2: because we've got so many of the young ones coming up, 67 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:26,960 Speaker 2: and then with the masters they always bring a partner 68 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:29,680 Speaker 2: or family members as well. So we expect it to 69 00:03:29,720 --> 00:03:33,320 Speaker 2: have a huge economic impact on the Darwin area. 70 00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:35,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, I was going to say, a nice boost for 71 00:03:35,120 --> 00:03:37,960 Speaker 1: the Northern Territory economy, and like I love seeing that 72 00:03:38,040 --> 00:03:40,680 Speaker 1: through sport, you know, seeing the way in which sport 73 00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:43,040 Speaker 1: brings just a whole sort of you know, a different 74 00:03:43,160 --> 00:03:45,280 Speaker 1: range of people to the Northern Territory. 75 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:49,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, we haven't been up here for an international event 76 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:51,600 Speaker 2: since our Apuris, so it's been a little time since then, 77 00:03:51,960 --> 00:03:54,400 Speaker 2: and I think that it's an opportunity for people not 78 00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:56,280 Speaker 2: just to come to dar and of course you've got 79 00:03:56,280 --> 00:03:59,000 Speaker 2: so many wonderful places around Darwen that people will go 80 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:02,160 Speaker 2: and see. Don't just fly into Darwin and fly out. 81 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:04,440 Speaker 2: This will be an experience for them and for our 82 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:08,760 Speaker 2: Pacific Island athletes. This is a small enough big city 83 00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:11,920 Speaker 2: that they will feel as so they're special here and 84 00:04:11,960 --> 00:04:14,440 Speaker 2: we think that's really important too. We can go to 85 00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:17,080 Speaker 2: big cities all the time for Australian Championships in New 86 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:20,599 Speaker 2: Zealand championships, but when we have an Oceania Championships, we 87 00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:22,359 Speaker 2: like it to have a bit of a feel of 88 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:25,960 Speaker 2: the Pacific and we reckon that. Darwin's got that feel. 89 00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:29,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think it'll be fantastic. Do you know what 90 00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:32,200 Speaker 1: other locations of course, you know what other locations have 91 00:04:32,279 --> 00:04:35,960 Speaker 1: the Oceania Championships been held to act before? 92 00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:39,599 Speaker 2: Oh, well, we've been in Townsville, We've been in cans So, 93 00:04:39,680 --> 00:04:42,360 Speaker 2: Queensland's hat At a number of times. But we've been 94 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:46,040 Speaker 2: like we came our last Oceania Championships were in Suva, Fiji. 95 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:49,440 Speaker 2: We've been in Samoa, We've we were in Tonga last 96 00:04:49,480 --> 00:04:51,960 Speaker 2: year for the Oceania Cup. So we try to get 97 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:55,159 Speaker 2: around to a lot of our island federations, but we 98 00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:58,800 Speaker 2: also know that when we come to Australia that we 99 00:04:58,839 --> 00:05:02,440 Speaker 2: get a really good stroke contingent from Australia and New Zealand. 100 00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:05,240 Speaker 2: The facilities here in Darwin are great. We would have 101 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:08,440 Speaker 2: loved to have had pole Vault and maybe somebody's listening 102 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:10,960 Speaker 2: who will think that's a really good idea to come 103 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:13,640 Speaker 2: and get the pole vault or you know, to put 104 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:16,200 Speaker 2: in the equipment here so we could hold pole volt 105 00:05:16,200 --> 00:05:18,599 Speaker 2: here at another time. But you know, this is a 106 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:22,719 Speaker 2: great facility and this complex out here in the Northern 107 00:05:22,800 --> 00:05:25,760 Speaker 2: Territory in Darwin has everything going for it, so to 108 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:30,239 Speaker 2: bring international events here is fabulous. It's got infrastructure around 109 00:05:30,279 --> 00:05:33,479 Speaker 2: the city, you've got hotels, you've got places we can stay. 110 00:05:33,839 --> 00:05:36,160 Speaker 2: That's not always so easy for us. Now that our 111 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:38,680 Speaker 2: event is the ranking event, we're getting a lot more 112 00:05:38,680 --> 00:05:41,040 Speaker 2: people come, so it's not easy to find places that 113 00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:44,040 Speaker 2: are big enough to hold the Oceania Championship season. 114 00:05:44,279 --> 00:05:46,960 Speaker 1: And is there a lot of you know, preparatory work 115 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:49,400 Speaker 1: that needs to happen here in Darwin as well before 116 00:05:49,480 --> 00:05:52,799 Speaker 1: all of those athletes arrive and before the carnival gets underway. 117 00:05:53,720 --> 00:05:56,160 Speaker 2: It is, and we're spending a few days here this 118 00:05:56,200 --> 00:06:00,440 Speaker 2: week obviously just doing some work with logistics, and then 119 00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:03,760 Speaker 2: we'll come back two or three weeks before the championships 120 00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:06,599 Speaker 2: at the beginning of May and make sure everything's ready 121 00:06:06,640 --> 00:06:08,800 Speaker 2: and look. You know, I'll call out to people here 122 00:06:08,839 --> 00:06:12,239 Speaker 2: in Darwin if they're interested in volunteering to be part 123 00:06:12,279 --> 00:06:14,760 Speaker 2: of this to you know, either come and rake the 124 00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:17,160 Speaker 2: sand pits or just help us to welcome people in 125 00:06:17,200 --> 00:06:20,160 Speaker 2: at the airport. We'd love to see all of dah 126 00:06:20,240 --> 00:06:23,720 Speaker 2: and really involved in this, in this big championship event. 127 00:06:24,040 --> 00:06:27,560 Speaker 2: It's a great way to make friends around our Oceania 128 00:06:27,640 --> 00:06:30,280 Speaker 2: area around the Pacific. You know, if they're not holidaying 129 00:06:30,279 --> 00:06:32,240 Speaker 2: here in daw And, they might want to be holidaying 130 00:06:32,279 --> 00:06:35,080 Speaker 2: in Sarmaar or Fiji and they'll have friends to go 131 00:06:35,120 --> 00:06:36,680 Speaker 2: and visit Yevon. 132 00:06:36,520 --> 00:06:39,760 Speaker 1: Before I let you go. So it's May eighteen to 133 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:43,240 Speaker 1: twenty three and we're expecting an enormous number of people 134 00:06:43,320 --> 00:06:45,479 Speaker 1: here by the sounds of things. 135 00:06:45,320 --> 00:06:46,960 Speaker 2: We are, and it's going to be a great event, 136 00:06:46,960 --> 00:06:49,200 Speaker 2: and we'd like to welcome everybody down to see not 137 00:06:49,320 --> 00:06:52,440 Speaker 2: just the Oceania athletes, but your local Darwin athletes too 138 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:54,080 Speaker 2: because you're going to have a number of them here 139 00:06:54,240 --> 00:06:56,800 Speaker 2: who are going to compete amongst the very best. 140 00:06:56,880 --> 00:07:01,520 Speaker 1: Wonderful staff. For Yvonne Mullins, the Executive direct of Oceania 141 00:07:01,680 --> 00:07:04,560 Speaker 1: Athletics Association, lovely to speak with you this morning. 142 00:07:05,279 --> 00:07:06,720 Speaker 2: Thanks Katie, thank you