LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Sir – Territory Alliance will bring back the Alice Springs Masters Games in 2021.
The Gunner Government has scrapped them for this year [and set them down for 2022]. This will mean four years from the last Alice Springs Masters Games in 2018.
We believe that this is a hasty and poorly thought out decision which should have been to hold a scaled down version this year, and if the borders happen to be open, then invite interstate participants.
Scrapping it is the easy solution, but not the best. We know that more than 50% of Masters Games participants are Territorians.
They could have showcased local entertainers and local celebrities, rather than using people from interstate. By October Alice Springs will need a celebration like this.
This is a wasted opportunity to kickstart our regional tourism industry, stimulate business and lift our spirits.
We have several full-time NT Government staff employed to organise the Masters Games in Alice Springs. Bring it on.
Robyn Lambley
Territory Alliance Member for Araluen
The Masters Games being cancelled now has put a real damper on the start to bring tourism back to Alice, and of kick starting the local economy.
Why can we not have it, even if it is only Territorians, at least some businesses will start getting back onto their feet?
The staff have been in limbo and have most likely have everything in place.
If not, at least make it an entertainment event where all involved in the making of the Games enjoy a chance to join a sport to give it a try.
Or are we penalised because of the Berrimah line and and not wanting our oval destroyed?
“And if the borders happen to be open.”
Yes Robyn, and if my aunty had balls she’d be my uncle.
I’d like to see the Master Games back but it will only take one infected Coronavirus person to kill many Indigenous people. Right now it’s a Russian roulette just with movement to Indigenous communities.
The writing may be on the wall for the Red Centre NATS if you follow the Governments logic about interstate visitors. Or is that too close to the election to cancel??
Great idea Robyn and to make sure we don’t get interstate visitors gate crashing the games before the borders are open we can ask the Joint Defence Base to patrol with drones.
Armed with Hellfire missiles, of course. Just in case.