- Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events
With 100 days until the Australian women's cricket team takes on all-comers at the ICC T20 World Cup, Victorians have today been encouraged to play their part by helping to fill the MCG for the final.
World Cup organisers have secured global superstar Katy Perry to perform at the March 8 decider, which is hoped will break the world record for attendance at a women's sporting event.
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula and Minister for Women Gabrielle Williams joined Australian cricketers Sophie Molineux and Georgia Wareham and a collection of their international rivals at the MCG today to mark the 100-day countdown to the start of the tournament.
A sell-out crowd for the final - to be played at 7pm on International Women's Day - could make history with the highest attendance for a women's sporting event standing at the 90,185 achieved for the 1999 soccer World Cup final between the US and China in California.
For the first time, the men's and women's ICC T20 World Cup will be held as stand-alone tournaments next year, with the women competing on grounds across Australia in February and March before the men play in October and November. The men's final will also be held at the MCG.
The MCG holds the world record for the biggest crowd at any cricket match - 93,013 people turned out for the 2015 ICC World Cup final played between Australia and New Zealand.
The Andrews Labor Government is pitching in to make the women's ICC T20 World Cup 2020 a marquee event.
The Government provided $25 million towards the redevelopment of Junction Oval, with the investment enabling the ground to host five matches during the tournament including a blockbuster between Australia and New Zealand on March 2.
The Labor Government's T20 World Cup Legacy Program is providing local cricketers with coaching scholarships, leadership programs and an expanded Regional Big Bash series.
The first game of the T20 World Cup will be played on February 21. For more information and to buy tickets, visit t20worldcup.com.
As stated by Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula
"The women's ICC T20 World Cup final promises to be an amazing date on the 2020 calendar, hopefully with Meg Lanning's Australians taking to the field in front of a record crowd at the MCG."
"We know Melbourne is the sporting capital of Australia and a monster turn-out supporting our very best women cricketers would further reinforce that fact."
As noted by Minister for Women Gabrielle Williams
"This is a chance to create history and we're encouraging all Victorians to descend on the MCG on March 8 – International Women's Day – to be part of this landmark moment for women and sport."
