An elite sporting event for hearing impaired Australian athletes is expected to give the Border’s economy a $3 million boost in 2018.
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At the closing ceremony of the 2016 Australian Deaf Games on Saturday in Adelaide, it was announced the twin cities of Albury-Wodonga would host the next event.
The Border will be the third non-capital city after Geelong and the Gold Coast in Queensland to host the games since its modern inception in 1964.
Deaf Sports Australia general manager Garry West-Bail said the Border had been successful in its bid because of the passion of the two cities and its people.
“The commitment to wanting to do everything they could do to have the games and make it a success was very pleasing,” he said.
The Albury and Wodonga councils worked for about eight months on a submission to attract the event.
Wodonga mayor Anne Speedie said the quality of sporting infrastructure on the Border had been a big plus in securing the games.
Albury mayor Henk van de Ven said there would not only be an economic benefit for the community but it would also be a wonderful opportunity to come together and support residents who were hearing-impaired.
The Adelaide games attracted about 950 athletes and similar numbers are expected for 2018 as well as a slew of interpreters, officials and volunteers from Australia and other pacific countries like New Zealand, Fiji and Samoa.
Wodonga golfer Dean Connell is likely to be flying the Border banner at the games in two years’ time.
The number one ranked deaf Victorian golfer picked up three medals at last week’s games.
Connell is one of several deaf Border athletes who would be aiming to compete in at least one of 17 sports slated.
Declan Campion, 16, Joel Hartley and Ben Polo are three Lavington sportsman also eager to qualify for the next Deaf Games.
Hartley fancies his chances in cricket and eight-ball while his good mate, Polo, was also keen to make the NSW cricket side and maybe rugby sevens.
Both are impressed by young runner Declan who can blitz the 100m sprint in 12.20 seconds.
Declan, who has a cochlear implant in his right ear, said he was being monitored by Australian Deaf Sports as a possible competitor for 2017 Deaflympics in Turkey.
“Athletics is my big goal ... because my grandfather almost made it to the Olympics in the long jump,” he said.
Declan’s mother, Tanya, said it was a good opportunity for him to compete at a national level on home turf.
“He is obsessed with sport,” she said.
