Thursday, 9 February 2023

Geelong major events

Chris COUZENS (Geelong) (09:55): So far Geelong’s major events have attracted thousands of visitors to our beautiful city and given residents plenty of reasons to enjoy their home town. The Andrews government proudly supports these events that put the national and international spotlight on Geelong, boosting tourism and our local economy. These events require a great deal of work obviously, and I want to thank the organisers of these events and particularly acknowledge and thank the many volunteers involved in making these events a success.

Throughout January Geelong welcomed the Bay Crits, which gave top cycling action over three days featuring some of our nation’s and the world’s best. It attracted thousands of visitors and local spectators. We welcomed the Victorian Country Athletics Championships to Landy Field, a three-day track and field athletics championship with 900 participants, competing in 2200 events, from all over the country. Formal athletics started in Geelong in 1862, and it has continued its growth in high participation levels. The facility of course is named after the legendary John Landy, who we have acknowledged and paid tribute to in this chamber this week. The Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race welcomed the world’s best women and men cyclists to Geelong and the Surf Coast. Since the inaugural event in 2015 the race has become a pillar of Victoria’s world-leading major events calendar. In Geelong the excitement is incredible as thousands line the track along the Geelong waterfront – (Time expired)