The Gold Coast will once again come alive with the spirit of the Commonwealth Games this weekend, as three Games sports return to the coast.
The ITU World Triathlon Grand Final and World Championships are already under way and use mostly the same courses plotted out for Commonwealth Games athletes.
The 2018 Gymnastics National Club Carnival kicked off yesterday at the Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre at Carrara and the Wallabies will play Argentina at CBus Super Stadium later tonight.
Assistant Tourism Industry Development Minister and Member for Gaven Meaghan Scanlon said the three events highlighted the Gold Coast’s prominence as a world-class sporting destination.
"The Gold Coast continues to reap the benefits of the Commonwealth Games," she said.
"We wouldn’t have been able to secure many of these events without having hosted a successful Commonwealth Games and we’re seeing an increase in the number of spectators at events on the Coast as a result of the Games.
"This just goes to prove how the Commonwealth Games is boosting our major events industry, generating millions for the economy and supporting jobs in tourism."
Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones said all Gold Coast Games venues were booked out for the rest of the year and booking hours were tipped to double in 2018-19.
"Two of the events this weekend are classed as high-participation events - bringing thousands of competitors and officials, coaches and spectators over several weeks," she said.
"We invested in transport infrastructure and venues ahead of the Games to make the Gold Coast one of the most attractive major events destinations on the planet.
"Overall we expect these events to generate almost $10 million for the local economy and bring more than 60,000 visitor nights.
"And just like Festival 2018 did during the Games, adding to this weekend’s atmosphere is the SWELL Sculpture Festival which also kicks off today for the next nine days.
"Major events drive visitors to the Gold Coast. That’s one reason why we’re investing $36 million in major events in this term to create jobs and stimulate the economy.
"The government has a clear strategy to use international and national championships as a platform to promote our tourism experiences.
"We’ll continue to target high-value events to maximise the legacy of the Commonwealth Games.
"There are still opportunities for spectators to attend all three events this weekend. The triathlon is a free spectator event and gymnastics and rugby tickets are available on Ticketek’s website."
