Alice Springs will host two major Indigenous cricket competitions this week with more than 350 participants taking part in the Imparja Cup and the National Indigenous Cricket Championships (NICC).
The two competitions are supported by NT Major Events. The Territory Labor Government provides significant investment to NT Cricket through facility upgrades and peak sporting body funding.
The Imparja Cup is the biggest Indigenous cricket competition in Australia with teams travelling from across the Territory to take part.
The NICC will follow the Imparja Cup from February 22 to 27 and is an important showcase for Indigenous cricketers and provides an avenue to progress through the Australian Cricket pathways.
Around 140 players from Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, Tasmania, NSW and Western Australia will travel to Alice Springs for the competition.
The NICC provides a pathway for Indigenous cricketers to reach the elite levels of Australian representatives Scott Boland, D'Arcy Short and Ashleigh Gardiner, who have previously played in the competition.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Sport Kate Worden:
"The Imparja Cup and the National Indigenous Championships have been held in Alice Springs since 2016 and are significant events on the Australian cricket calendar.
"The Territory Labor Government invests in our regional centres and our support of these competitions has delivered an economic boost to Alice Springs over many years.
"These two competitions provide a pathway for Indigenous cricketers to show their potential at a higher level."
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Major Events Brent Potter:
"Delivering exciting and engaging events across the Territory, is a priority of the Territory Labor Government.
"The Territory Labor Government continues to invest millions into events because it brings our community together, supports small businesses and creates local jobs.
"It is fantastic to see a calendar bursting at the seams full of events in 2024, because that means there is something for all Territorians, young and old, including the Imparja Cup in Alice Springs."
Quotes attributable to NT Cricket CEO Gavin Dovey:
"Cricket is a sport that has a rich history and connection with Indigenous Australians, and we're delighted to be hosting these wonderful sporting events in what we consider to be Australia's spiritual home of Indigenous cricket, Mparntwe (Alice Springs).
"It is events like the Imparja Cup and NICC that give young indigenous Australians the opportunity to showcase their talent and ultimately to try and follow in the footsteps of D'Arcy Short, Ashleigh Gardner, Scott Boland who have gone on to represent Australia at the highest levels of the sport."
Northern Territory Government
