2011 Netfest event announced

Thousands of netballers from around Australia and New Zealand are expected to converge on the Gold Coast in September next year for a weekend of fun, frivolity and ... netball.

NetFest, the first mass participation netball event of its kind, will be held at the end of the regular netball season for both countries and is open to 18 and over female and male players of all levels and competitive spirit.

Netball Australia CEO Kate Palmer said the carnival, to be held annually on the second weekend of September, would be a three-and-a-half day festival from Thursday evening to the Sunday afternoon.

“NetFest will be a round-robin series where different formats of netball will be played across the days, from traditional and indoor netball to having a go at beach netball,” Ms Palmer said.

“The different formats will not only provide players with an exciting opportunity to test their playing skills, but also a fresh, fun approach to the game to celebrate the end-of-season.

“Netball Australia can think of no better way to celebrate the end-of-season with an international competition that brings together players from across Australia and New Zealand in such a beautiful and appropriate location as the Gold Coast.

“We look forward to making NetFest an international success, and one that becomes an annual destination for netballers, their families and supporters, and spectators alike.”

Ms Palmer said that the event had the full support of the Queensland Government and that netball was delighted to be working in partnership with Events Queensland.

The carnival joins an impressive list of major sporting highlights already confirmed at the Gold Coast for 2011, including the Magic Millions Yearling Sales, ANZ RACV Ladies Masters, the Rugby League Indigenous and NRL All Stars match, the Australian Surf Lifesaving Championship and the 2011 Australian University Games.

Netball is the largest female participation sport in both Australia and New Zealand, with 1.2million people playing netball at a national level.

Australia has over 327,000 players registered members across 560 associations nationally, while New Zealand has 135,000 registered members with an additional 80,000 social participants.

NetFest 2011 will be held at the Gold Coast from September 8 – 11, 2011.

You can register your interest now at www.netfest.com.au.