The largest competition events schedule in Commonwealth Games history has been unveiled, with the Official Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018) Ticketing Guide allowing spectators to start planning their experience ahead and ticket requests opening for New Zealand supporters.
Boasting the largest medal event program and the most number of sessions in Commonwealth Games history, the GC2018 Competition Events Schedule details all 23 sporting disciplines across the integrated sport and Para-Sport program, as well as all competition dates and times.
GOLDOC Chairman Peter Beattie AC said, “As we celebrate our One Year to Go milestone, it is exciting to announce the largest competition events schedule in Commonwealth Games history.
“GC2018 will see Beach Volleyball and Women’s Rugby Sevens making their Commonwealth Games debuts, helping us become the first major multi-sport event in the world with an equal number of medals between men and women and GC2018 will mark the first time para Triathlon has featured on the program with para sport athletes able to compete in the Marathon for the first time also," he said.
President of the Commonwealth Games Federation Louise Martin CBE was also excited to celebrate the ticket request milestone.
“With just one year to go to the next Commonwealth Games on Australia’s Gold Coast, now is the time for athletes and communities across the Commonwealth to get behind one of the world’s finest and friendliest sporting competitions. Releasing the all-important ticketing details and the Games’ largest-ever event s schedule makes the event so much more real for teams, fans and supporters," she said.
"Adding to the excitement and significance are new sports and world-first commitments to gender equality of medal opportunities – so we hope as many people as possible will start planning that trip to the Gold Coast to cheer on their athletes and teams this time next year”.
The release of the competition events schedule coincides with One Year to Go celebrations celebrated on April 4 across the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne as the countdown continues ahead of 4-15 April 2018 event.
The key considerations which have been factored into the design of the GC2018 Competition Events Schedule are:
- Maximising exposure for all 23 sporting disciplines; through both ticket sales and television audiences.
- Maximising the spectator experience, including assisting Transport operations by staggering event start and finish times;
- Scheduling a variety of events within sessions to maximise the spectator experience;
- Maximising athlete performance by considering factors such as recovery periods;
- Maximising broadcast content for national and international viewers across multiple time zones;
Among the highlights of the GC2018 Competition Events Schedule are:
- 13 sports will be showcased on Day 1 (Thursday, April 5);
- The first gold medal to be awarded will be the Women’s Triathlon on Day 1 (Thursday, April 5);
- The highly anticipated 100m final (Men’s and Women’s) will be held on Day 5 (Monday, April 9);
- Day 10 (Saturday, April 14) will act as “Super Saturday”, with the most number of medals to be awarded (44 gold medals in total);
- The Rugby Sevens finals for men and women will be the final gold medal events on Day 11 prior to the closing ceremony.
In order to make it fair for everyone, GC2018 tickets will initially be available via a Ticket Request phase.
Any sessions that have more ticket requests than there is availability will have tickets awarded via a fair and equal draw. The fair and equal draw is made by computer and processed randomly, in addition to being independently audited by KPMG.
Whilst placing a ticket request does not guarantee success, it provides spectators with the best chance to secure tickets for the most in-demand sports sessions.
GOLDOC CEO Mark Peters noted the massive global reach of the Games.
“With 18 sports and a record seven para-sports, GC2018 comprises the largest competition event schedule in Commonwealth Games history which will be broadcast to a cumulative global audience of 1.5 billion," he said.
“GC2018 will feature the largest ever Para-Sport program for a Commonwealth Games with 38 medal events across seven disciplines involving 300 Para-Sport athletes and Athletics will be the largest sport at GC2018 with a total of 58 medal events and estimated participation of around 1,000 athletes from over 60 nations and territories."
For New Zealand residents wanting to travel to the games to support the Kiwis in action they can register now and begin their ticket request process via New Zealand Olympic Travel.
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