Australia’s Gold Coast – fit for training

Gold Coast residents embrace a sporty lifestyle. The sport industry is also big business.

Warm all-year climate, world-class facilities and sports science expertise make Gold Coast a training destination for the world’s elite athletes.

• Around 1300 athletes and officials from 15 countries trained on the Gold Coast in the lead-up to the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
• The 2003 winning English World Cup Rugby team used Gold Coast as an R and R base while elite basketball, water polo, swimming and baseball teams fine-tuned their performance skills at city facilities. www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/sport
• Training sites include Carrara Sports Complex with an open air stadium with capacity for 18,000; Palm Meadows Baseball Facility a USA preferred Olympic training site configured to MBL specifications; Gold Coast Regatta Centre at Hinze Dam with 9 x 2000m competition lanes to FISA standard; Gold Coast Athletics Centre with an artificial track surface and photo-finish. Other elite training areas include cycling tracks, purpose-built running tracks, throwing grounds, pool complexes and indoor sports centres.
• Australia’s Gold Coast is a solid network of large-group, VIP or secured accommodation options including lodges suitable for large sports teams, six-star properties or resorts with high security.
• Sports events attract the world’s best – with the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro Surfing contests, the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships, the Lexmark Indy 300, Gold Coast Marathon and world-class triathlon, golf, cycling, tennis, outrigger canoe, gridiron and equestrian events.
• Health centres, retreats and alternative therapies abound with services including sports massage, acupuncture, yoga, pilates, meditation as well as conventional sports coaching. Sports sciences courses are offered at Griffith University  and Bond University.