PM Transcripts

TA 0
FOR MEDIA 18 May 1984
Plans to stage the first Australia Games in Melbourne next
January were announced jointly today by the Prime Minister,
. Mr Bob Hawke, and the Premier of Victoria, Mr. John Cain.
The Games are expected to cost just over $ 2 million.
Mr. Hawke said the Australian Government, in honouring its
1983 election commitment, would provide $ 800,000 and the
Victorian Government had agreed to a grant of $ 375,000.
balance of the funds would be raised by the Australia
. Games Foundation f rom marketing and television sponsorship.
The 1985 Australia Gamnes will coincide with Victoria' s-
150th birthday celebrations.
N' Mr. Hawke said the Australia Gamnes would provide a much needed
national focus for sport in Australia and facilitate regular
high-level competition for Australia's top athletes in their
own country.
He said the Games would act as the major catalyst in
promoting the benefits of increased participation and
involvement in sport and would encourage States to upgrade and
provide sporting facilities of international standard.
The valuable experience gained from staging the Australia
Games would improve Australia's chances of hosting other
major international sporting events.
Mr. Hawke said he hoped other States would follow Victoria's
lead and offer to stage the Games in future years, with a
m uajor effort in 1988, the bicentennial year. z