Basketball Victoria’s Ivor Burge and Under-20 Men’s and Women’s teams will travel to Mackay this May for the Australian Junior Championships.
Basketball Australia announced today that Mackay will play host to the event for the next two years at the McDonalds Mackay Multi-Sport Stadium, the first to be held between May 3-7 in 2021.
Victoria have a strong hold on these championships, having won 11 of the last 13 Under-20 men’s championships, 12 of the last 14 Under-20 women’s championships (including the last ten straight), 14 of the last 16 Ivor Burge men’s championships and 10 of the last 14 Ivor Burge women’s championships.
The Under 20 Australian Junior Championships was first established in 1974 (men’s) and 1981 (women’s), and see teams representing each state and territory compete for the title of Under 20s national champions. The Ivor Burge Championships is for open-age players with an intellectual disability and dates back to 1995 when the inaugural tournament was held.
Queensland Tourism and Sport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the two-year agreement would result in 20 teams competing over five days at the Multi-Sport Stadium this year.
“Mackay will host the men’s and women’s Under 20 Australian Junior Championships and Ivor Burge Championships for open-age players with an intellectual disability the first time from May 3 – 7 2021, and host the championships again in 2022.
“These are state, amateur representative teams featuring the best young basketball talent and support crews staying in Mackay for the duration of the competition.
“For fans of the game, there is a feast of basketball to be had in Mackay.
“We know the tourism industry is hurting but it is events like the Under 20 Australian Junior Basketball Championships and Ivor Burge Championships that help to bring visitors to regional Queensland and support local jobs.
“Events are backing our state’s economic recovery from COVID and helping the tourism industry to rebuild and rebuild better.”
Basketball Australia General Manager Basketball Paul Maley said the sport’s governing body is excited to be bringing these National Championships to Mackay in North Queensland for the next two-years.
“The Under 20 Australian Junior and Ivor Burge Championships showcase the best young basketball talent from across the nation. These Championships are a critical part of the pathway for elite players, officials and coaches and many of our sport’s greatest athletes have played in this event over the years, making for high quality and entertaining basketball over the week-long competition.
“Basketball Australia would like to thank the Queensland Government, Tourism and Events Queensland, Mackay Regional Council and Mackay Basketball for their ongoing support of basketball and for hosting these important national championships.”
Mackay local and current women’s national team head coach Sandy Brondello is very exciting to see top quality basketball come to the city.
“I’m thrilled that Mackay will be hosting these two Championships over the next two years. Mackay is a passionate basketball city and was a wonderful co-host of the hugely successful 2020 WNBL season.
“Having participated in the Under 20 Australian Junior Championships for Queensland in 1995, I know firsthand just how much this tournament means to Australia’s emerging elite basketballers and their career aspirations.
“I’m certain the people of Mackay will embrace these National Championships and will make it an event to remember for visitors to the region.” Victorian Under-20 and Ivor Burge teams will be announced in due course and the 2021 fixture will be released by Basketball Australia at a later date.
Victoria’s Under-20 and Ivor Burge teams will be announced in due course, with Basketball Australia releasing a fixture at a later date.