City of Casey Edwin Flack Games coordinator Angie Vrieze and games co-chairman Bob Muir encourage local families to come along and enjoy the sporting days.THE City of Casey is gearing up for the 2006 Edwin Flack Games sporting and cultural exchange.
Participants from Casey’s Sister City Springfield, Ohio, USA arrived this week with the games starting yesterday (Wednesday) and set to finish on Friday, 8 July.
Casey mayor Kevin Bradford encouraged all residents to come along, watch the sports and be part of the Edwin Flack Games excitement.
“The games will see good-natured competition between the sister cities in a range of sports and provide great entertainment for participants and spectators alike,” he said.
Sporting days start on Friday, 23 June during the school holidays with events including volleyball, soccer, basketball, golf, softball, baseball and athletics.
The Edwin Flack Games, named after Australia’s first Olympic gold medallist, Edwin Flack, follow on from the highly successful Edwin Flack Games held in Australia in 2000 and the James B. Connolly Games held in the USA in 2004.
Overseas visitors will be home-hosted by volunteer Casey families for the duration of the games and will also visit some of Victoria’s most popular tourist attractions during their stay.
Cr Bradford said unfortunately, due to the country’s political crisis, competitors from Casey’s Friendship City of Ermera, East Timor were not able to take part in the games as had been planned.
“The 2006 Edwin Flack Games Organising Committee has been working extremely hard to ensure both our overseas visitors and local participants can share their cultures, make new friends and have an unforgettable experience,” he said.
For further information about the games, contact the Edwin Flack Games Coordinator, Angie Vrieze on 9705 5200 or visit council’s www.casey.vic.gov.au website.
