The Greater Western Sydney GIANTS have marked their first AFL match at Skoda Stadium by welcoming the announcement of the development of an elite training and community centre at Sydney Olympic Park.
Speaking before tonight's game against Essendon, GIANTS chairman Tony Shepherd said the new facility would also include a Multicultural and Community Education Centre (MCEC) to be accessible to the local community.
‘This is a tremendous endorsement of the GIANTS. Together with our ongoing partnership with Blacktown and the ACT, this development will enlarge our footprint across Western Sydney and ensure we remain an integral and vibrant part of the community for decades to come,’ Mr Shepherd said.
The multi-staged development would include an AFL training oval, a rectangular community training field, the MCEC and a high performance training centre on the site of the current golf driving range at Sydney Olympic Park.
Mr Shepherd acknowledged the Federal Government, Sydney Olympic Park Authority and the AFL for their involvement in assisting in the development of a state of the art training, administration and community facility in Sydney's Olympic precinct and in close proximity to the GIANTS home ground, Skoda Stadium.
‘In particular I want to acknowledge the chairman of Sydney Olympic Park Authority Michael Knight, Federal Sports Minister Senator Kate Lundy, AFL Chairman Mike Fitzpatrick and GIANTS CEO David Matthews for their vision to make this development opportunity happen.’ he said.
‘It has been widely known that the absence of a permanent summer training oval has been a major issue as the team prepared for its entry into the AFL competition in 2012 and the club needed to find a long term solution,’ Mr Shepherd said.
‘This centre will provide our talented young playing list with elite training facilities the equal of any other AFL club as well as access to the elite support services available to them in the Sydney Olympic Park precinct. It will help ensure our exciting players have long term futures with the GIANTS, and most importantly, it will give the club the very best opportunity to compete for premierships.’
Work on the training facility is scheduled to commence in August and field works are expected to be completed later in the year as the GIANTS prepare for the 2013 AFL season. Building works are expected to be completed late in 2013.
Sydney Olympic Park Authority said the development of the site enabled an acceleration of the master plan for the historic Sydney Olympic precinct with the end result realising a community facility which will be accessible by the public.
AFL Chief Operating Officer Gillon McLachlan said the new facility situated close to Skoda Stadium provided a common sense solution to the GIANTS' need for elite training facilities all-year round.
‘This initiative will ensure the GIANTS have access to great training facilities and sports science support in the Sydney Olympic Park precinct throughout the year, while also providing the local residents with access to new community facilities including the Multicultural and Community Education Centre’ he said.
The Federal Government will contribute $2 million for the MCEC to be used for community purposes. Federal Minister for Sport and Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Senator Kate Lundy, said the Giants were quickly building a diverse fan base in Greater Western Sydney and it was important to ensure new infrastructure could be accessed by the local community.
“This new facility will provide opportunities for multicultural youth organisations in western Sydney, ensuring young people have access to settlement services to strengthen community links and encourage participation,” Senator Lundy said.
“Sport is a wonderful equaliser and through the GWS GIANTS, new Australians now have a greater opportunity to be a part of a club environment where they can share a passion for sport, make friends and try something new.”
Mr Shepherd said the AFL's long term partnership with the Blacktown City Council had been crucial to the successful establishment of the GIANTS. "Based on a strong relationship with Blacktown City Council, led by Mayor Alan Pendleton and Ron Moore, the GIANTS have reiterated our ongoing commitment to be an integral part of the local community," he said.
"This year we played the first ever AFL match for premiership points against the West Coast Eagles at Blacktown on 15 April and we are very grateful for the council’s ongoing support and delighted that we will continue to enjoy a constructive working relationship that will deliver economic, sporting and social benefits to the people of Greater Western Sydney."
As part of their partnership, Mr Shepherd said the GIANTS and the Blacktown City Council were discussing a range of future initiatives. They include:
- More NAB Cup matches at Blacktown International Sportspark (BISP)
- Maintaining the GIANTS Academy at Blacktown to develop local talent in Western Sydney
- Basing AFL and GIANTS staff at Blacktown for a range of community programs to deliver benefits to the local region
- Regular NEAFL matches at BISP featuring UWS GIANTS and other teams
- Staging of elite under age matches at BISP
"We want the GIANTS to be a great football club on and off the field. A club that is innovative, engages with the community and is committed to excellence. This new facility at Sydney Olympic Park together with our long term partnership with Blacktown will help us achieve that ambition," Mr Shepherd said.
2012 TOYOTA AFL Premiership Season – Round 9
GWS GIANTS v Essendon
SKODA Stadium
7.40pm Saturday 26 May, 2012
