The 2008 Alice Springs Masters Games are fast approaching, and I am sure visitors and locals alike are feeling very excited, just as the Games team are!
On behalf of the Alice Springs Masters Games I would like to take this opportunity to welcome our newly appointed Minister for Sport and Recreation, Minister Karl Hampton. A local resident and keen sports participant, Minister Hampton is looking forward to the approaching Games, and is hoping to participate in the Darwin versus Alice Springs AFL match. We are all looking forward to working closely with Minister Hampton as the Games draw nearer.
With only a matter of weeks to go until the Games begin, this edition of the Friendly Games Bulletin has been prepared to provide all of our registered participants with some handy information that you will need to know before arriving for the Games.
I look forward to seeing you all at what is shaping up to be an awesome week of sport, fun and more fun!
Judith Dixon
Games Manager
Games Centre & Check In
The Games Centre is the hub of all activity over Games week. It’s where you’ll be able to purchase Games merchandise and official photos, view any results and also find out any general Games information.
Games check-in happens over the first three days at the Game Centre. This is when all registered competitors and volunteers receive their accreditation pass and Games pack, as well as Sports Programs that will detail sports’ events and playing times.
The hours for Games Centre and Check In are as follows:
Thurs 9 Oct - 5pm – 8pm
Fri 10 Oct - 8am – 6pm
Sat 11 Oct - 8am – 4pm
Sun 12 Oct - Fri 17 Oct - 8am – 6pm
Sat 18 Oct - 8am – 4pm
Sun 19 Oct - 10am – 2pm
The free Alice Plaza shuttle bus will run every twenty minutes during these hours, with the exception of Thursday 9 October. It will run from the Alice Plaza Target entrance to the Games Centre for competitors’ convenience, and there is also plenty of parking at the Centre if you have your own transport. A number of other free bus services operate during the Games week that will be outlined in your souvenir program received in your Games pack.
For all other important information in the lead up to and during Games time, check out the Games website: www.alicespringsmasters.com.au
What’s On
This Games we have more entertainment and activities then ever before! From a footy demo match to karaoke, there is something for everyone to enjoy. During the week, check out the ‘What’s On’ section of the daily Games newspaper the ‘Friendly Daily’, for updates and schedules of activities.
There are three huge nights of entertainment over Games week and entry is free!
Opening Ceremony – Russell Morris & Brian Cadd
Midweek Concert – The Ego Has Landed & Chunky Custard
Closing Ceremony – Daryl Braithwaite
Want to register for more events?
While official registrations for the 2008 Games have closed, there are a number of sports that are opening up registrations for competitors during the week of the Games. If you arrive for the Games and decide that you would like to participate in some more sports, there are a number of options for you:
• The Mile of Madness is for individuals & teams to dress up and have some fun. Registrations are $5 per person and will be accepted all week at the Games centre.
• The Team Triathlon is held at the end of Games week. Registrations are $10 and must be received by Friday 17 October.
• Rec Footy is holding a round-robin competition on Wednesday afternoon of Games week. There is no cost, just turn up and have a go!
• Lawn Bowls Social is played in the evenings and is accepting participants during the week. Call up prior to book and have some fun!
For more details on any of the sports listed above and how to register, visit the Games website and follow the links to that sport.
Reminder about Dry-Town Laws
You may be aware that Alice Springs is now a dry-town, and has slightly different laws relating to alcohol than in previous years. Rest assured that there will be minimal impact on the Games, as most Games & sporting venues are licensed premises, including the Opening, Closing and Mid-week Concerts, and will all still be operating as usual.
It is very important that you remember to bring photo identification with you. Regardless of age, all persons wishing to purchase take-away alcohol must produce accepted photo ID.
For full details visit http://www.nt.gov.au/justice/licenreg/liquor.shtml or contact Licensing & Regulation on (08) 8951 8452.
100 DAYS TO GO
Diary Dates
9 Aug – Registrations close for competitors & volunteers
9 Oct – Check-in opens
11 Oct – The Games Begin
15 Oct – Midweek concert
18 Oct – Closing Ceremony
9–16 Oct – 2010 Games
The Countdown is On!
With only 100 days to go til the 12th Alice Springs Masters Games, there is so much happening! To help mark 100 Days, this leaflet has been put together to update you with what’s happening in the lead up to the Games.
Time is running out with only a month to go until registrations close for competitors and volunteers. Registrations have been pouring and some sports are full already, so now is the time to act! For those that have registered but are having trouble finding accommodation, visit our website, where available accommodation is updated regularly.
We’ve had a few entries for our Everyday Masters and Pics In Peculiar Places – keep them coming! For details or to check out entries, visit our website. Remember all entries go in the draw to win some great Games vouchers.
Entertainment Announced
If you’ve been living under a rock, chances are you haven’t yet heard who is performing at the concerts for this years Alice Springs Masters Games.
There’s a few headline acts that are sure to get you excited, starting with Australian singer-songwriters Russell Morris and Brian Cadd. Performing at the Opening Ceremony, there’s a huge array of hits to choose from, including Little Ray of Sunshine, Arkansas Grass, Wings of an Eagle and The Real Thing.
Not to leave you disappointed, the party will continue with Melbourne-based cover band Sexual Chocolate. As one of Australia’s most sought-after cover bands, they offer a great mix of old & new hits that everyone’s sure to love.
As always, there’s some fabulous local talent throughout the evening, with Built For Comfort and In Tatters playing by popular demand.
The Midweek concert gets moving from 7pm, with Chunky Custard playing some groovy hits from the 70s & 80s. Also on stage are The Ego Has Landed – a Robbie Williams tribute band that has the energy, good looks and flashy girl dancers like the Robbie we all love.
The Closing Ceremony is on Saturday 18 October, and it gets started with young local band The Moxie. They’ll be playing some great modern covers, warming up the 7,000+ crowd for one of Australia’s premier entertainers to take the stage, the legendary Daryl Braithwaite. With a career spanning over 25 years, Daryl Braithwaite will be performing some of his solo hits as well as some favourites from his time as Sherbet front man.
Reverend Funk & The Horns of Salvation are up next, playing a great mix of soul & disco covers to keep the party going. Finishing off the night with a bang are Alice local band Pogo Monkey, who are so in demand they have been playing at the Games since 1994!
Masters Mates Rates
Local businesses around Alice are becoming a part of the Games in a new way this year, through ‘Masters Mates Rates’, a campaign that’s great for the Alice Springs community, and even better for Games participants. Businesses around town are offering promotions, discounts or specials for participants of the Games to take advantage of during the week of competition.
As a participant, you will receive a card in your Games pack that details which businesses are supporting ‘Masters Mates Rates’, and what they are offering. When you are here for the Games, please show your support for these businesses who are part of ‘Masters Mates Rates’, because they are showing support for the Alice Springs Masters Games.
Thanks must go to the local businesses that have already applied – as a new campaign for the Games, the response has been amazing. There’s so much variety, from retail shopping to beauty therapy, and brickyards to credit unions. With a couple of weeks until the closing date, no doubt there is going to be a few more to add!
Alcohol in Alice Springs
For visitors travelling to Alice Springs for the Games, you may be concerned about the impact the new Dry Town laws will have on the Games. Rest assured, it won't make much difference to most Masters visitors – but there are a few things to note.
As has always been the law, there is no consuming alcohol in public places – this includes drinking in the mall before the march, so leave your eskies at home! To quench your thirst, Anzac oval is a licensed premise for the opening & closing ceremonies. Other licensed premises around town, including most of our sporting venues have permits and will still operating as usual.
There are some restrictions on purchasing take-away alcohol. Bottle shops open at 2pm on weekdays, 10am on Saturday and 12 noon on Sunday. Remember to bring your photo ID– you must always have photo ID to purchase takeaway alcohol in Alice Springs, regardless of your age.
You’ll always be able to get a cold drink in Alice, and you’ll always have a good time – especially at the Masters Games!
Time is Running Out
Over 17,000 entry forms have been sent world wide, along with over 1,000 email notifications letting everyone know that entries to the 2008 Alice Springs Masters Games are now open – and closing soon! For those who register before 30 June, you have the chance to win one of five great early bird prizes consisting of Games merchandise, medal engraving and photographs of your choice worth $100. You had better get in fast because some sports are filling up! Luckily our Games Patron Dawn Fraser has already registered, because Golf has nearly reached 50% capacity! The final date for registrations is Saturday 9 August 2008.
New Games Brings New Sports
This year the ASMG is introducing several new sports: Recreational Football (Rec Footy), Lawn Bowls Social, Inline Hockey and Indoor Beach Volleyball.
Rec Footy is ‘The Game for Everyone’. It’s similar to Aussie Rules but with new developments it’s much easier to play and less physically demanding. Rec Footy is played between two mixed teams of eight with an unlimited interchange. A player is dispossessed of the ball when an opponent removes one of two ‘flags’ attached to the player, as opposed to the usual tackling rules in Aussie Rules. The field is also smaller than Aussie Rules, being a maximum of 100 meters long. The new rules make Rec Footy an enjoyable game for competitors with more opportunities for play as teams are mixed, with at least two female competitors required on the field. If you would like more details on official rules they can be found at: www.aflrecfooty.com.au
Lawn Bowls Social is just that – social! Lawn Bowls Social is being played in the evenings with no shoes and no whites. It’s a great way for novices to introduce themselves to the spirit of the Games as this sport is not open to competitors who are registered in regular Lawn Bowls. Lawn Bowls Social will be played in the evenings of Games week from 7pm, with the exception of the evenings of the Opening & Closing Ceremonies and the Midweek Concert.
Inline Hockey and Indoor Beach Volleyball follow the standard rules for their sports. Competitors age categories start at 25 and 30 years respectively. There is still plenty of room for teams for Inline Hockey, but if you are interested in a team for Indoor Beach Volleyball you had better get in quick because it’s a popular sport in Alice Springs, so the spots are filling up fast!
For more details on any of the sports or to register, visit www.alicespringsmasters.nt.gov.au, or phone 1800 658 951.
Changes to Sports
There have been some changes to a few sports in the Games so far. This year, the age groups for Women’s Cricket have lowered so we are now accepting teams from 25 years of age where it was previously 30. Baseball is only accepting a maximum of 12 teams, so get those entries in! Football (Soccer) is now offering 7-a-side as well as 11-a-side, and Motorcycling has a new event – Flat Track/Short Circuit. For more information visit our website.
Let’s Get Ready to Party!
This year the Games have more entertainment than ever before! Not only do we have the free concerts at the Opening, Closing and Midweek Concerts, we have plenty more on offer. Lasseters Hotel Casino, adjacent to the Games Centre, has just opened the Juicy Rump, an exciting new bar that is going to have a DJ every night of the Games and will be open until 5am daily. If you are feeling peckish, Juicy Rump will also be offering $10 meal specials throughout the Games.
Footy Fever
Look out footy fans! This year there is going to be an AFL demonstration match during the week of the Games, to be held on Wednesday evening, the 15th October. The match will be a 'Territory Legends' match, with a team from both Alice Springs and Darwin of masters aged competitors reliving the glory of their footballing days. With some well known NT players taking the field, it’s going to be an exciting one to watch. You don’t have to worry about missing out on the Midweek Concert, either. The match will be kicking off at 5pm, and the Alice Plaza will be putting on a free bus service taking spectators from the match to the Midweek Concert which starts at 7pm on the Lasseters lawns.
Madness & Music @ the Mile!
Get ready for hysterics this year at the Masters Mile, with the ‘Mile of Madness’! After the traditional Masters Mile there will be a second mile for teams or individuals to enter. This is the opportunity to give those outrageous costumes from the Opening Ceremony another run and there’ll be prizes for the best dressed! Games Ambassador Daryl Somers will again be commentating the events of the evening. Every person that enters will receive a limited edition Games souvenir. Entry is $5 per person, and you can enter during the Games week at the Games Centre, or by asking the Ambassador at your sport.
As well as spot prizes and giveaways on the night, there is plenty to stick around for afterwards with the spectacular cycling street sprint, Night Markets in Todd Mall, as well as the opportunity for more exercise – exercising your vocal chords that is! The Games ambassador, Daryl Somers, may even be making a guest appearance at ‘Krazy Karaoke’ – a karaoke night to be held in the centre of Todd Mall. With plenty of prizes to give away – and not necessarily for the best singers – it’s sure to be a night not to miss!
Everyday Masters
The Alice Springs Masters Games has provided many mature aged athletes from different sports, locations and backgrounds to gather in one place and enjoy sport in a friendly environment. Many of these competitors have inspirational stories on how they have achieved significant personal goals, or they have inspired others around them to reach the seemingly impossible. If you know a competitor that has achieved something amazing, or inspired someone themselves, please let us know, because it is through special people like them that the Games live up to their reputation of being ‘The Friendly Games’. All stories will be shown on our website, and all entrants go in the draw to win a $50 voucher to spend on your choice of Games merchandise, medal engraving, or photographs of yourself at the Games. Email your stories through to
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Games bag spotted in Bali
Pics in Peculiar Places
If you have seen anyone with old or new Alice Springs Masters Games merchandise or clothing, send us a photo! We want to see the funniest, quirkiest, or most unusual photos of Games merchandise, clothing or anything else with the Games logo, wherever it may be. Photos will appear on our website and entrants will be eligible to win a $50 voucher to spend on your choice of Games merchandise, medal engraving or photographs of yourself at the Games. Email your pics to
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. Start snapping!
Media Coverage For You
The Media Centre of the Alice Springs Masters Games would love to be able to let everyone in Australia know about yourself or your team. If you have a regular contact in the media in your home town that currently follow you or your team that we can send stories to in the lead up and during the Games, let us know. It will be a great opportunity for you to let everyone at home know how you or your team are going over the Games. Email
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, or call the Games office on 1800 658 951.
Friendly Games Bulletin - Edition 1 July 2007
Welcome
It’s time to get into those training regimes again as the 2008 Alice Springs Masters Games is well on its way!
The heart of Australia will again host the Alice Springs Masters Games,
better known as ‘The Friendly Games’ from 11 to 18 October 2008!
In 2006 Alice Springs played host to over 4500 competitors with most of
the 30 plus sports at or near capacity. Volunteer numbers reached an
all time high with 650 registered volunteers coming from all over
Australia to help make the 2006 Alice Springs Masters Games one to
remember.
So that you don’t miss out on being a part of the Alice Springs Masters
Games be sure to mark on the calendar 11 – 18 October
2008.
See you at the Games…
We've Spiced Things Up
All those who have taken part in the Alice Springs Masters
Games know how much fun is had over the week of the Games. Games
organisers are keen to reflect that fun and excitement in the new Games
logo.
Adding some new colour brings the logo to the party while still
incorporating the Alice Springs township’s colours of black and gold.
You may notice that the familiar running figures now have a spring in
their step! This reflects what sport is all about, getting
out, having a go, and being a part of ‘The Friendly Games’.
The new logo is sure to turn heads, along with many more improvements set for the week of the Games.
They’re back
Australian living legend Dawn
Fraser is the Patron for the Alice Springs Masters Games and has held
this position since the first Games in 1986. Dawn gives generously of
her time to promote the Games and enjoys getting out and about to as
many sports as she can over the week of the Games. Along with her
official duties, Dawn also finds time to compete in golf at the
Games. Rumour has it that Dawn might even hit the pool in 2008,
after two of her long standing records of over 20 years were broken in
2006.
Daryl Somers has been an Ambassador for the Alice Springs Masters Games
since 2002. He always makes time for a quick trip to the red centre for
the Games, because let’s face it you will never never know if you never
never go! Daryl enjoys competing in running events at the Games,
and we look forward to having Daryl back to present and possibly even
win some medals in 2008!
Website Under Construction!
Why just stop at
a new logo – we have gone all the way and we are reconstructing the
Alice Springs Masters Games website. Of course we will keep the old
favourites; you will still be able to compare previous year’s results.
As well as each of the 30 odd sports having their own page, the famous
ASMG paper the Daily Echo will also be posted on the website to keep
family and friends around the country up to date on all the ASMG news.
Some improvements we have made include a new look and feel with a
special focus on making the website user friendly. A new ‘what’s on’
daily program and a database for medal presentations are being
developed to keep friends of the Games updated on where and when the
action will be over Games week.
The website will be a one stop shop for all your Alice Springs Masters Games needs.
We are going on Tour
As part of getting the
word out there that the Alice Springs Masters Games is the friendliest
games around we are heading to the Australasian Masters in Adelaide
from the 5 - 14 October.
There will be plenty of giveaways, and of course lots of information on
the more than 30 sports that the Alice Springs Masters Games offers.
Drop by and say g’day to the team from the Alice! We look forward to meeting you.
Friendly Games Bulletin
Time is Running Out
Madness & Music @ the Mile! 
Welcome
We've Spiced Things Up 
They’re back
Website Under Construction!
We are going on Tour
