Major Sport Events

Melbourne is the ‘Ultimate Sports City’

Melbourne’s position as sports capital of the world has been confirmed with it winning the title of ‘Best Sports City’ at the 2010 SportBusiness Sports Event Management Awards. This award follows similar announcements by SportBusiness International magazine that ranked Melbourne as the ‘Ultimate Sports City’ in terms of hosting major events in 2006, 2008 and 2010. This ranking was a result of an analysis that is carried out every two years by ArkSports Limited. The criteria for these awards are the number of major sporting events held or won over a set period, as well as a review of facilities, transport, government support, accommodation, weather, public interest, legacy and quality of life. In 2010 Melbourne took the award ahead of a competitive field of cities including Berlin, which hosted the IAAF Athletics World Championships, and Singapore, which hosted the first night Formula One Grand Prix.

Major Events in Victoria

Hosting major sporting events provides an opportunity for Victoria to put itself on the world stage and create a lasting legacy for the people of Victoria.

Melbourne winning the title as the worlds ‘Best Sports City’ comes from hosting numerous highly successful events over recent years. Events such as the 2006 Commonwealth Games, 12th FINA World Swimming Championships in 2007, the 2008 World Latin Dancesport Championships, the 2010 UCI Road Cycling World Championships, the 2011 President's Cup Golf, and the 2012 UCI Track Cycling World Championships, have all strengthened Melbourne’s reputation as the best location in the world for hosting major sporting events.

Victoria also has a strong track record for hosting well known annual major sporting events including the Spring Racing Carnival, FORMULA 1 Australian Grand Prix, MotoGP and the Australian Tennis Open.

The Victorian sporting events calendar attracts participants and spectators from across Australia and overseas, adding over $1 billion each year to the Victorian economy. Tourism Victoria's calendar of events lists all Victorian major events.

Sport and Recreation Victoria plays a key role in the coordination of the State Government’s major event strategy. Following a successful bid for a major event by the Victorian Major Events Company, Sport and Recreation Victoria works with the relevant organisation to deliver event.

Current and recent events that are contract managed by Sport and Recreation Victoria on behalf of the Victorian Government include:

• Festival of Sails (2010-2012)
• Australian Masters Golf (2011-2013)
• Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix (2007-2010)
• Australian National Dancesport Championships (2009–2012)
• Australian Open Lawn Bowls (2012-2014)
• Football (Soccer) Events Package (2010 - 2013)
• Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix (2007-2015)
• Rip Curl Pro Surfing (2012-2014)
• Rugby League Events Package (2010 – 2012)
• Rugby Union Events Package (2012-2015)
• UCI Track Cycling World Championships 2012
• Women's Australian Open Golf (2012, 2014-2015)
• World Superbike Championships (2007-2012)

Previous events contract managed by Sport and Recreation Victoria on behalf of the Victorian Government include:

• Presidents Cup Golf (2011)
• UCI Road Cycling World Championships (2010)
• UCI Track Cycling World Cup (2008 -2010)
• Pacific Rim Gymnastics Championships (2010)
• ISAF Sailing World Cup - Sail Melbourne (2009-2011)
• Australian Masters Games (2009)
• Australian Open Men’s Golf (2005)
• Australian Open Womens’ Golf (2009)
• ICC Cricket Super Series (2005)
• Commonwealth Games (2006)
• Commonwealth Youth Games (2004)
• Days in the Diocese (2008)
• Deaflympic Games (2005)
• FINA World Swimming Championships (2007)
• Football (Soccer) Events Package (2006 – 2009)
• Homeless World Cup (2008)
• Jayco Herald Sun Tour (2007-2009)
• World Ten Dance Championship (2004)
• Melbourne Victory vs Juventus match (2008)
• Men’s Hockey Champions Trophy (2009)
• National Triathlon Championships (2005 – 2007)
• Parliament of the World’s Religions (2009)
• Rip Curl Pro Surfing (2001 – 2008)
• Roxy Surfing Festival (2004 – 2008)
• Rugby League Events Package (2006 – 2009)
• Rugby World Cup (2003)
• Sail Melbourne Regatta (2005 – 2008)
• Volvo Ocean Race Melbourne Stopover (2005/06)
• Women’s World Cup Road Race (2006 – 2008)
• World Artistic Gymnastic Championships (2005)
• World Hot Air Ballooning Championships (2004)
• World Latin Dance Championships (2008)
• World Lifesaving Championships (2006)