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South Australia has won the right to host a globally prestigious International Rugby Board Sevens World Series for the next five years, Premier Mike Rann has announced today.
Adelaide will become one of eight cities across the world where the annual international 16-team series is played, with Adelaide's first two-day rugby festival to be held in April 2007.
National and State Rugby Union officials Gary Flowers and Rob Nelson and Australian Rugby players joined Premier Rann and Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith for today's announcement.
Premier Rann says it is a major sporting victory for the State and is expected to generate up to $6 million in economic benefit, attracting visitors, players and officials from overseas and interstate.
“This is the latest in a string of sporting wins for our State, which includes the AFC Women's Asian Cup (soccer) this month and a Socceroos versus Lebanon qualifier match in August.
“And it comes hot on the heels of our commitment to inject $16 million to refurbish our world famous sporting venue Adelaide Oval, where the event will be held.
“Securing this event is an important step in our goal to develop a full-year calendar of sporting, arts and cultural events to attract more visitors to our State.
“Events like these help to fill our hotels, restaurants and shops during the traditionally quieter winter months and give us a chance to beam our State's 'brilliant blend' around the world.
“The IRB Sevens World Series will generate massive international television coverage in many of our major tourism markets, including the UK, New Zealand, France, Japan, USA and Middle East.
“In the same way the World Cup has lifted the profile of Germany, international sporting events help to promote South Australia as a destination for overseas and interstate tourists.
“It also helps Adelaide to stamp its name as a venue for high-level sporting events. Adelaide Oval has a great reputation for hosting international events, such as the 2003 Rugby World Cup.
“South Australia is developing a strong partnership with the Australian Rugby Union and hope to attract more international rugby to the State.”
Australian Rugby Union chief executive and managing director Gary Flowers says rugby is a truly international sport with a passionate audience in 130 countries.
“The broadcast of Sevens reaches 150 million homes through 29 international broadcasters,” he says.
“Adelaide will now be on a global stage with the likes of Hong Kong, Wellington, London and Dubai.
“Rugby Sevens is a highly charged, high energy, fast-paced game that is ideally suited to the vibrant cultural, celebratory and family orientation of South Australia and its government.”
SA Rugby Union chief executive Rob Nelson thanked the Premier and State Government for its support for the event, which will help to build rugby's profile in the State.
iRB Sevens - Facts
Adelaide was widely hailed as the success story of Rugby World Cup in 2003 when it sold-out two days at Adelaide Oval and contributed over $8m to the economy.
Adelaide will feature on an 8-leg international calendar alongside the likes of London, Wellington, Hong Kong, Dubai and the USA.
Since its inception in 1999, the IRB Sevens World Series has been played in 16 countries across 5 continents and 46 countries have participated.
Adelaide will be 'paired' with Hong Kong, the longest running and most successful Sevens tournament which now boasts some extraordinary statistics, including an average 50% of tickets sold overseas with an average stay of 6-7 nights and average spend of approximately $1,700.
Commercially, Wellington is the most successful tournament and it now contributes $6.8m to the local economy.
Behind athletics, Rugby Sevens was the most sought-after ticket at the recent Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, attracting 150,000 spectators across 4 sessions of play at the Telstra Dome. Rugby Sevens is being considered for inclusion as an Olympic sport in 2012.
The Adelaide Sevens would be held annually in April from 2007 - 2011 and will feature 16 teams playing 42 matches over two days - one every 22 minutes.
The IRB Sevens World Series and Adelaide are a perfect fit. Much like the Clipsal 500 and the Tour Down Under, Sevens Rugby is fast and action-packed i.e. as much about the party and the entertainment as the sport.
The Adelaide Sevens will significantly increase the profile of Rugby Union in South Australia and assist SA Rugby to continue to grow the game in South Australia, which has grown 60% in junior participation since the 2003 Rugby World Cup.
The bid for this event was a joint initiative of Events South Australia (the major events division of the South Australian Tourism Commission), Australian Rugby Union and the South Australian Rugby Union.
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Originally Posted by The InnFORCEr
prepared to organise and support such a trip?
