Arafura Games

The Arafura Games is a Multi-sport event usually held every 2 years in the Australian city of Darwin, in the Northern Territory. It is an international event which draws its competitors from around the world. First held in 1991, the most recent Games, held in 2007, involved over 30 nations and over 3,000 athletes. From 2005, it will include events for athletes with physical disabilities. The 2007 Arafura Games received patronage from the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

Called a "meeting of Sporting Neighbours", the Arafura Games takes its name from the Arafura Sea, which lies between northern Australia and Southeast Asia. The nations that are based around the Arafura Sea originally formed the basis of the Arafura Games, however in recent years countries from further afield have participated, including USA, England, Brazil and Liechtenstein. The Games were known as the Arafura Sports Festival up until 1997.

The Arafura Games were cancelled in 2003 due to concern over the SARS virus.

These Games were the first ever international sporting festival to have Australian Rules Football as an international competition sport in its own right. The International Australian Football Council was formed after the 1995 Games.

Basketball

Basketball is a foundation sport of the Arafura Games, starting back in 1991 basketball has grown from a 4 team competition with teams from around the Darwin region to an 8 team international competition with teams from all over the world.

Basketball is played at the Darwin Basketball Stadium, Abala Road Marrara, in the Marrara Sporting Complex.

The basketball competition is conducted under Federation of International Basketball Associations (FIBA) conditions and Guidelines.

In recent years the USA squad comprised of players from University teams around the United States of America have dominated the competition in terms of winning the Gold medal. The Northern Territory team have been shaded in the last 4 Arafura games by the Americans and only their depth on the bench has let them down. The Northern Territory have won the Silver medal in the past 4 Arafura games.

2007 Arafura Games Basketball results: [http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=6-2775-0-0-0 Arafura Games 2007]

Gold "United States of America: USA Colleges"

Silver North"ern Territory: Northern Territory"

Bronze "Australian Indigenous: Australian Indigenous"

ports

The Arafura Games will next be held 9-17 May 2009. The sports that are to be played at the 2009 Arafura Games are:

*Athletics- including Paralymic events
*Australian Rules Football - demonstration sport
*Badminton
*Basketball
*Boxing
*Cycling - including Paralymic events
*Darts - new sport for 2009
*Football (soccer) - including Paralympic events
*Golf
*Hockey
*International lifesaving
*Lawn bowls
*Muaythai - new sport for 2009
*Netball
*Sepaktakraw
*Shooting - Clay Target
*Shooting - Pistol (IPSC)
*Shooting - Pistol/Air Rifle (ISSF) - including Paralympic events
*Squash
*Swimming - including Paralympic events
*Table tennis - including Paralympic events
*Tennis - including Paralympic events
*Ten-pin bowling
*Triathlon
*Indoor volleyball
*Beach volleyball
*Weightlifting and IPC Powerlifting

Australian Football at the Arafura Games

In 1995, the Singapore Wombats, New Zealand Falcons, Hong Kong Dragons, Papua New Guinea Mosquitos, Nauru Chiefs and Japan Samurai competed at the Arafura games in the inaugural Australian rules football competition, with Singapore and Japan playing as a combined unit.

Nauru did not return in 1997, but Australian sides in the Central Desert Eagles, Combined Australian Defence Forces and a Northern Territory Football League side joined the fray. The Australian Defence Force and NTFL sides were too strong, playing off for the Australian gold. The International Gold Medal was won by Papua New Guinea, with the Silver Medal going to New Zealand.

In 1999, the Samoa Bulldogs debuted beginning the game with the Sivi Tau (war dance) before the New Zealanders had finished their haka. The tournament again featured 8 sides, the six international sides joined by the Central Desert Eagles and the Northern Territory under 16s representative side. Papua New Guinea again won the gold, NZ the silver and Samoa the Bronze Medal.

2001 saw only four sides compete, these being Japan, Nauru, the Central Desert Eagles and a Northern Territory Super Rules squad. Nauru won the gold, the Central Desert Eagles the silver and the Northern Territory side the bronze.

In 2005, Japan were the only international attendees.

External links

* [http://www.arafuragames.nt.gov.au/ Official website]