Disability Sports Australia (DSA) in partnership with the Australian Football League (AFL) is pleased to announce Hobart, Tasmania, the venue for the 2020 National Wheelchair Football Championship.
From Thursday, 2 to Saturday, April 4, 2020, the best of Australia will take to the court in Hobart to fight for the 2020 National Champion title. Due to the significant development of this sport at the national level over the past 12 months, the 2020 National Championship has become the largest to date with a record number of teams participating in the event.
Disability Sports Australia CEO Jenny Cole expressed her excitement over bringing the event to Tasmania: “It is absolutely appropriate for citizens to be in their state of origin in the year when the ParaQuad Tasmania Association celebrates its 30th anniversary. Tasmania has been an avid fan of the sport and we are confident they will have a great event. We are sure that the Tasmanians will support this sport and will support their team there.”
AFL National Manager for the Inclusion of People with Disabilities Tim Nildd reiterated Ms. Cole’s enthusiasm, noting the growth of sports in Tasmania over the past year: “We are proud to partner with Disability Sports Australia in 2020 to bring the citizens of Tasmania, where the best footballers from across the country will demonstrate the sport at the highest level. In the last 12 months, Tasmania has launched its inaugural league, which coincides with the football clubs of the Tasmanian National League, and we hope that by hosting the National Competition, we will be able to attract more people with disabilities to play our great game.”
In Tasmania, this sport has a long history. Its founder, Kevin Faulkner, is a local Hobart resident who has played an important role in the development of sports nationally over the past five (5) years. In addition, the Tasmanian team has participated in three of the four previous national championships, returning home with two silver and bronze medals. They will be looking for elusive gold in front of the home audience in early April 2020.
The DSA and AFL will be working closely with local partners, the ParaQuad Association of Tasmania and AFL Tasmania to host an event that is a must-see in 2020!
The AFL National Wheelchair Championship AFL 2020 will last three (3) days and teams from all over Australia will compete for the national crown.
Location: Moonah Sports Center, Hobart, TAS
Dates: Thursday, 2 – Saturday, April 4, 2020
For more information, please contact the CEO of Disability Sports Australia – Sport, at kelsey@sports.org.au or by phone +61 2 8736 1221.
https://www.sports.org.au/news-feed/2020/2/14/hobart-to-host-the-2020-toyota-national-wheelchair-afl-championship
