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General News

23 February, 2023

Locals asked for insight into 2026 Games impact

Federation University Australia is leading a project to give local communities a voice on how they can benefit from hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games. In just over three years’ time, five of Victoria’s regions will play host to the Victorian...

By Maryborough Advertiser

Locals asked for insight into 2026 Games impact - feature photo

Federation University Australia is leading a project to give local communities a voice on how they can benefit from hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

In just over three years’ time, five of Victoria’s regions will play host to the Victorian 2026 Commonwealth Games, with Bendigo, Ballarat, Gippsland, Geelong and Shepparton hosting events for the 23rd edition of the Games.

At the request of Sports Focus, Dr Alana Thomson from Federation University is collaborating with researchers and experts in sport and event legacies from La Trobe University and Griffith University to design and implement a survey to hear from the broader community about their hopes, ideas and concerns for local sporting legacies.

Ms Thomson, said it’s important that planning began now to secure lasting sporting legacies.

“Research from previous large-scale sport events tells us that long-held assumptions about trickle- down effects, investing in elite sport to encourage uptake at the grassroots don’t always hold true,” she said.

“If we want those active participation outcomes, we need to carefully plan and resource initiatives around the hosting of an event to engage communities in sport.

“This survey is the first step with our university collaboration with Sports Focus to identify the opportunities and challenges to securing sporting legacies around Victoria 2026.

“Based on the insights the community shares with us, we will then work up a plan with Sport Focus and the local sport sector to ensure that sport in Bendigo and central Victoria see benefits beyond the two weeks of elite sport competition.”

The online survey is open to residents of Bendigo and surrounding areas and takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. It does not require personal or sensitive information from participants.

The questions focus on participant views about the potential sporting legacies, impacts, and challenges, as well as the opportunities for realising sporting legacies.

The information collected will be analysed by the research team looking for key themes and areas for action. The insights will be delivered back to Sports Focus, providing an evidence base to prioritise their efforts in supporting sporting clubs within Bendigo and central Victoria to manage impacts of the event, while securing long-lasting legacies for community sport.

The survey is now open at www.surveymonkey.com/r/Bendigo2026 and will close at midnight on Wednesday, March 1.

Anyone with an interest in local community sport is encouraged to complete the survey, whether they are a current participant or volunteer, someone who’s participated in the past, someone who has family members that participate, or anyone who would love to be participating but for various reasons may not be at the moment.

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