A re-elected Coalition Government will provide $530,000 to the Maroochydore Swans Football Club to support their bid to become a Training Facility ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023TM.
Maroochydore Swans Football Club could soon host the world’s best international football teams if the Coalition Government is re-elected following a $530,000 commitment made by Federal Member for Fairfax, Ted O’Brien today.
Mr O’Brien, who is also the Prime Ministers Special Envoy for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, said the funding would support the infrastructure upgrades at Maroochydore Swans Football Club to achieve full compliance ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023TM.
“The Morrison Government has heavily backed Australia’s bid to host the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023TM every step of the way and now we’re taking this support to the next level,” Mr O’Brien said.
“To support the Maroochydore Swans Football Club’s bid to host the world’s best female football players, a re-elected Coalition Government will provide $530,000 to achieve full compliance with FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 training site requirements.”
“This funding boost would support major upgrades to the local club, making it an international-standard training facility.”
Upgrades to the club would include a state-of-the-art LED lighting system and the installation of a major drainage system which will support the club to play year-round football.
To meet compliance, the Club must raise their lighting levels on field 1 to 300 lux, which is the training site requirement for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023TM
Secretary of the Maroochydore Swans Football Club, Jean Pateman said the opportunity to host the world’s best female footballers, not only represents an ‘incredible opportunity’ for the Club but for the Sunshine Coast.
“Maroochydore Swans Football Club has worked very hard over the past 3 years and are confident that with the relevant funding in place, we will be able to deliver the necessary requirements.” Ms Patemean said.
“Ted O’Brien’s commitment to fund these projects is absolutely amazing and our committee and club members are extremely grateful!”
“Not only would this give our members and the Sunshine Coast football community the chance to play on an incredible surface at our venue, it would go a long way to attracting more top events to be held at our complex and of course we have the small matter of an Olympic and Paralympic Games taking place here in 2032!”
Australia and New Zealand’s successful bid to host the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023TM shocked the sporting world in 2020, as it will be the very first time a senior World Cup would be held Down Under.
Seeing the potential early in hosting the world’s most prestigious Women’s football tournament on Australian soil, the Morrison Government provided significant support in the development of the bid.
This local commitment extends on the work being done by the Morrison Government which has already committed $2.4 million to Football Australia to assist with the planning and delivery of the event, in addition to $5 million to support the development of the historic bid.
This massive funding support builds on the $12 million commitment made last year to support the Matildas and national youth teams, as well as community engagement activities, to increase football participation among women and girls.
The FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023TM represents one of many International level sporting competitions that will be held on Australian soil ahead of the 2032 Olympic Games.
Mr O’Brien said that his local commitment of $530,000 represents the first of many transformational opportunities for the region as South-East Queensland prepares for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“International sporting events such as this put the Sunshine Coast on the map, provide a major boost to the local economy and accelerate the delivery of key community infrastructure funding the region needs,” Mr O’Brien said.
“But this is not all about infrastructure either. It’s about strengthening the already strong culture of sport participation in Queensland and bringing communities together.
“We are already beginning to harness these opportunities that hosting this event presents to inspire even more girls and women to participate in football and sport, and to make playing sport and exercising a big part of people’s lives.”